STEPHEN  B,  WEEKS 

cuss  OF  BM;  PHD  nt  X»*tS  HOPKINS  UWVtRSITY 


OF  THE 

DNIVBRSnY  OF  NORIB  CAROLINA 

THE  WEEKS  COIIECTIION 

OF 


^^^E'^^^n^^^E 


C971.90 
S77 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00032761388 


This  book  must  not 
be  token  from  the 
Library  building. 


y 


.^ 


©KEITGHES 


OF 


MON  RO  B. 


AND 


UNION   COUNTRY 


Together  With   General    and  Individual 

Characteristics  of  Their  People  and 

A  Description  of    the    Natural 

Resources    and    Business 

Enterprises 


JJV- 
By  stack  &  BEASLEY 
Monroe,  N.  C,  July,  1902 


news  and  times  print 
charlotte,  n.  c,  1902 


577 

4 


PBEFACE. 


The  object  of  this  publication  is  to  tell,  in  a  modest  way,  some 
of  the  many  interesting  truths  about  one  of  the  best  counties  in 
the  State,  and  to  more  fully  illustrate  the  things  said  a  good  deal 
of  personal  matter  is  put  in.  We  think  the  whole  will  be  found 
interesting  from  cover  to  cover.  The  fine  natural  advantages 
of  the  county,  the  sturdy  and  upright  character  of  the  people 
and  its  rapid  progress  along  all  lines  of  development  make  it  un- 
mistakably one  of  the  best  counties  in  the  Old  North  State. 

The  progressive  spirit  of  Monroe  is  marked;  for  population', 
it  has  the  finest  churches,  schools,  and  public  institutions  to  be 
found  anywhere,  and  the  pure  artesian  water  with  which  the 
town  is  supplied  is  incomparably  healthful.  A  careful  perusal 
of  these  pages  will  repay  the  reader. 


S 


Q^ 


UNION  COUNTY, 


Union  county,  of  which  ^lonioe  is  llic  capital,  is  what  may  be 
called  a  county  of  middle  age  in  Xorth  Carolina,  being  more 
than  half  a  century  old  as  a  distinct  political  organization.  It 
contains  640  square  miles,  lies  on  the  lower  border  of  what  is 
known  as  the  Piedmont  region,  and  is  bounded  on  two  sides  by 
the  State  of  South  Carolina.  Its  population  by  the  last  census 
was  27,156.  The  county  has  most  of  the  many  advantages  so 
generously  given  the  State  of  which  it  is  a  part,  some  of  which 
it  may  be  well  to  enumerate  at  some  length.  The  county  tax 
rate  is  19  1-3  cents;  special  39  1-3  and  $1.18  on  poll.  There  ifl 
practically  no  debt. 

POPULATIOX. 

The  people  are  natives.  While  here  and  there  may  l)e  found 
persons  from  other  sections  of  the  country,  nowhere  do  foreigners 
abound.  Indeed,  a  foreigner  of  any  nationality  is  a  great  rarity. 
The  white  people  are  exceedingly  thrifty  and  intelligent.  We 
believe  the  average  of  intelligence  is  equal  to  that  of  any  county 
in  the  State.  Law-ljreaking  by  the  white  people  is  rare,  and 
there  has  never  been  but  one  manifestation  of  mob  violence 
in  the  long  history  of  the  county.  That  was  for  the  nameless 
crime,  some  twenty  years  ago.  Modest,  unassuming  people,  we 
have;  intelligent,  brave,  moral.  In  justice  to  the  colored  popu- 
lation a  word  should  be  spoken  in  their  behalf.  They  are  law- 
abiding  as  a  race,  and  industrious.  Certainly  there  is  a  great 
deal  of  petty  crime  committed  among  them,  but  there  is  a 
conspicuous  absence  of  the  graver  offences.  And  while  there  are 
many  shiftless  ones  about  the  to\\iis,  there  are  many  faithful 
workers  in  both  towns  and  country. 

OCCUPATION. 

The  principal  occupation  of  the  people  is  agriculture.  Stock 
raising,  principally  for  home  consumption ;  mining,  lumbering, 
and  wood  chopping  also  receive  attention.     The  towns  and  vil- 


lages  of  the  county  are  of  course  turning  their  attention  to 
manufacturing.  Within  the  county  there  are  two  cotton  mills, 
a  cotton  seed  oil  mill,  several  roller  flour  mills  and  a  number  of 
wood  working  plants  and  small  canning  plants. 

THE  PEOGEESSIVE  SPIKJT. 

The  Old  ISTorth  State  is  now  a  fairy  land  where  the  changes 
being  wrought  in  the  development  and  energizing  of  her  advan- 
tages are  as  magical  as  some  of  the  deeds  fancifully  attributed 
to  the  work  of  the  fairy's  wand.  And  in  this  wonderful  progress- 
the  county  of  Union  is  fast  forging  to  the  front.  The  spirit  of 
progress,  of  "noble  restlessness"  is  upon  her  people.  Everywhere 
is  this  manifest.  In  the  splendid  improvement  of  her  roads 
and  in  her  educational  work  does  this  show  with  marked  effect. 
But  it  is  no  less  manifest  in  the  broadening  habits  of  thought, 
the  lifting  of  ideals,  the  quiet  but  ever  onward  struggle  for 
better  things  in  both  the  material  and  moral  worlds. 

The  average  of  comfortable  living  is  perhaps  as  high  in  this 
county  as  over  any  other  section  of  similar  size  in  the  United 
States.  With  the  painting  of  a  church  and  the  enlargement 
of  a  school  house  go  the  improvement  in  farm  machinery  and 
farming  methods.  At  only  one  point  in  the  county  can  whiskey 
be  sold,  and  nowhere  in  the  county  is  there  a  distillery.  Put  by 
the  side  of  these  facts  the  remark  of  a  gentleman  who  has 
traveled  extensively  in  almost  every  State  in  the  Union — •'I 
have,"  said  he,  "been  all  over  the  blue  grass  region  of  Kentucky 
and  I  can  say  that  the  live  stock  used  by  the  people  of  Union 
county  is  better  on  the  average  than  that  found  in  similar  use 
in  that  famous  section"' — and  we  have  an  idea  of  the  hand  to 
hand  progress  that  the  moral  and  material  forces  of  Union 
county  are  making.  There  is  an  almost  ideal  blending  of  the 
conservative  and  the  progressive  ideas.  Tlie  two  meet  in  a  fine 
composite — a  guarantee  that  every  step  made  in  the  onward 
progress  is  a  real  one  and  shall  not  be  lost. 

SOIL  AND  CLIMATE. 

Prosperity  may  be  l)uilt  up;)n  different  interests.  l)ut  there  are 
onlv   two    things,    and    they    taken    together,    which    guarantee 


8 


l)e'yond  peradventure  a  lasting  prosperity.  These  two  are  favor- 
able soil  and  climate.  Towns  are  often  made  rich  by  the  manu- 
facture of  a  single  article — but  the  market  may  decline  and  the 
whole  cosily  fabric  of  a  profitable  industry  be  rendered  valueless. 
But  an  agricultural  section  with  a  soil  easily  adapted  to  an 
indefinite  variety  of  crops,  a  climate  alike  suitable,  with  an 
equable  rainfall,  there  is  no  possibility  that  the  population  will 
not   always  bo   happy   ancl    ])i'()sporous.     l^nion   county    is   free 


UNION     CorNTV    ColNT     IIol'SE. 


fi-()iii  excess  of  heat  or  cold.  Spring-  and  fall  arc  ideal;  in  the 
summer  the  days  are  warm  l)nt  tiie  nights  pleasant.  Winter 
brings  no  excessive  cold,  but  there  is  enough  to  be  bracing.  On 
an  average  there  are  ahiuit  two  good  snowfalls  a  year,  scarcely 
ever  over  six  or  eight  inches  in  depth.  Rainfall  is  well  distrib- 
uted so  that  every  section  of  the  county  is  well  watered.  The 
northwestern  border  of  the  countv  lies  on  the  Kocky  river,  while 


9 


the  Catawba  flows  near  its  eastern  border.  Into  these  two  courses 
flow  numerous  hirge  and  small  creeks,  traversing  every  section 
of  the  county,  and  furnishing  many  acres  of  "bottom  land," 
upon  which  corn  grows  so  vigorously.  Much  of  the  soil  is 
naturally  very  fertile,  all  of  it  may  be  made  so.  The  whole 
county  is  remarkable  for  its  healthfulness. 

CROPS. 

The  principal  crops  are  corn  and  cotton  and  wheat  and  oats, 
supplemented  by  rye.  clover,  grasses,  molasses,  and  a  great  variety 
of  fruits  and  vegetables.  Much  fruit  and  vegetables  are  canned 
and  preserved  in  different  ways.  As  a  rule  the  people  make 
their  own  supplies.  The  county  is  well  stocked  with  improved 
breeds  of  cattle  and  every  family  that  cares  to  may  have  abun- 
dance of  the  richest  milk  and  butter  at  a  trifling  cost.  Cattle 
may  obtain  good  grazing  for  eight  months  in  the  year.  Poultry 
can  be  raised  at  a  nominal  cost  and  the  market  is  always  good. 
The  great  number  of  poultry  and  eggs  shipped  always  keep  the 
local  market  w^ll  up. 

FARM,  MIN^ERAL  AXD  TIMBER  LAXDS. 

Union  county  is  rich  in  farm,  mineral  and  timber  lands. 
The  soil  has  already  been  referred  to;  good  farm  lands  can  be 
bought  for  $5  to  $20  per  acre,  and  can  be  secured  by  renters  at 
a  very  moderate  cost.  Almost  anything  known  to  the  temperate 
zone  of  Xorth  America  can  be  grown.  Timber  lands  abound. 
The  cutting  of  timber  and  wood  is  quite  an  industry.  It  is  no 
unusual  thing  for  a  person  to  buy  timber  land,  clear  it,  and 
secure  enough  profit  from  the  sale  of  wood  and  timber  to  pay  for 
the  full  purchase.  Nineteen  of  the  twenty-two  species  of  oak 
found  in  the  United  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  grow 
in  Xorth  Carolina  and  of  these  Union  county  has  her  share ; 
also  of  pine,  hickory,  persimmon,  walnut,  elm,  poplar,  cedar, 
maple,  dogw^ood,  sycamore,  cherry,  ash.  The  county  has  unqiies- 
tioned  wealth  in  her  gold  mines.  Her  mines  have  been  worked 
since  the  beginning.  There  are  a  number  of  old  mines  whose 
richness  have  been  demonstrated,  waiting  to  be  taken  hold  of  bv 


10 


capital  aiul  ('\])erion(e.  Rt-foiv  tin-  war  Cummotloro  Stockton 
and  ()tli(T>  worked  iiiincs  in  tlu'  cmiitv  un  a  lar^^f  scale,  ifr. 
J.  ('.  Ilalt<.  an  e\|K'rt  and  wealthy  miner,  lias  <»iH'rated  niinoi 
here  for  twi-nty-live  years.  Then-  are  many  shafts,  no  douht 
leading  to  rich  (ields,  that  have  been  al)jind()ned  l»v  their  owners 
only  becanse  of  lack  of  caj)ital.   Kieli  snrfaee  ^old  is  often  found. 


UNION    CorNTV  JAIL. 

many  times  farmers  pick  up  pure  nuggets  in  the  branches  or 
on  the  hillsides. 

EDUCATIOX  AND  THE  SPREAD  OF  IXTELLIGENCE. 


The  rapid  advancement  of  the  cause  of  education  in  the  county 
for  the  past  twelve  or  fifteen  years  hfls  been  marvelous.  The 
educational  revival  in  this  county  is  far  ahead  of  the  general  one 
in  the  State. 

Perhaps  more  boys  and  girls  go  to  college  from  this  county 


11 


in  proportion  to  population  than  from  any  other  in  the  State. 
This  is  clue  to  the  presence  of  a  hirge  number  of  high  schools. 
The  academies  at  Marshville,  Wingate,  Waxhaw,  Unionville, 
Weddington  and  Morgan  are  tine  feeders,  besides  shedding  an 
influence  for  progress  upon  the  communities  in  which  they  are 
located.  Six  of  the  nine  townships  of  the  county  have  each  one 
or  more  academies,  and  in  another  there  has  been  an  excel- 
lent one,  while  in  another  of  these  some  of  the  public  schools  run 
from  eight  to  ten  months  in  the  year.  At  the  county  seat, 
Monroe,  there  is  a  splendid  graded  school  system  for  both  white 
and  colored.  x4tt  Wesley  Chapel,  in  Sandy  Ridge  township,  the 
people  have  voted  a  special  tax,  erected  a  $1500  house,  and  will 
maintain  a  rural  graded  school — the  first  in  the  State.  Marsh- 
ville and  Waxhaw  are  also  considering  the  ciuestion  of  establish- 
ing graded  schools.  All  this  is  in  addition  to  the  public  schools 
provided  by  the  State.  There  are  several  small  free  libraries 
in  the  county.  Four  local  newspapers  are  maintained  and  all 
have  good  patronage.  Free  rural  mail  routes  are  being  opened 
up  and  the  whole  county  is  fast  becoming  a  net-work  of  telephone 
wires.  This  is  no  small  factor  in  the  spread  of  intelligence. 
Telephone  conections  with  his  neighbors  and  the  town  is  no 
small  comfort  and  convenience  to  a  farmer.  The  telephone, 
the  daily  mail,  the  improved  school  and  church  facilities  are 
adding  an  attractiveness  to  farm  life  which  was  undreamed  of 
a  few  years  ago.  All  these  unite  in  making  Union  far  up  to- 
wards the  head  in  general  intelligence  and  desirability  as  a  place 
of  residence. 

HISTOEICAL. 

The  territory  now  embraced  by  Union  county  has  at  different 
times  been  a  part  of  New  Hanover,  Bladen.  Anson  and  Meck- 
lenburg counties.  The  old  line  between  Mecklenburg  and  Anson 
ran  some  two  miles  east  of  Monroe.  Thus  Union  has  a  part  in 
the  history  of  each — the  Anson  Eegulators  and  the  Mecklenburg 
signers.  At  the  centennial  in  Charlotte  in  1875  there  was  pres- 
ent a  citizen  of  Union  county  who  was  then  considerably  over 
one  hundred  years  of  age,  and  had  as  a  lad  been  present  at  the 


12 


signing  of  the  famous  Declaration  on  May  20th,  1775.  This 
county  has  the  honor  of  having  given  President  Andrew  Jackson 
to  the  nation.  Where  his  parents  lived,  some  miles  west  of  Mon- 
roe, is  well  known,  as  is  also  the  place  of  his  birth  in  Jackson 
township — named  for  him — in  this  county.  Union  county  was 
"erected,"  as  the  statute  puts  it,  in  1842.  The  magistrates  in 
the  territory  of  the  new  county  were  instructed  to  meet  and 
form  a  county  government,  which  they  did  on  the  first  Monday 
in  April,   1843,   at   La   Batt's   crossroads    (old    Tindel   place.) 


rXION    COUNTY    HOME    FOR    .\GED    .\ND    I.NFIKM. 


There  being  a  dispute  between  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  as  to 
whether  the  county  should  be  named  Clay  or  Jackson,  the  word 
Union  was  suggested  and  adopted  as  a  compromise  and  because 
the  new  county  was  created  from  parts  of  two  others. 


13 


TOWN'S. 


Monroe,  the  capital,  is  of  course  the  largest  town  of  the 
coimty,  but  there  are  two  others  of  considerable  importance. 
Marshville,  situated,  ten  miles  east  of  Monroe,  is  a  thriving  town 
of  several  hundred  inhabitants  and  does  a  large  mercantile  busi- 
ness. It  has  a  roller  flour  mill  and  a  good  local  newspaper,  Our 
Home,  which  has  been  run  for  about  8  years  by  Mr.  J.  Z.  Greene. 
Waxhaw,  ten  miles  southeast  of  Monroe,  has  a  population  of 
800,  and  several  large  mercantile  houses  which  do  an  extensive 
business  in  furnishing  a  large  area  of  territory.  It  also  has  a 
cotton  mill,  owned  by  Eodman  &  Heath.  A  good  local  paper  is 
also  published  at  Waxhaw,  edited  by  Mr.  P.  T.  Way.  Both  Wax- 
haw  and  Marshville  are  fine  cotton  markets,  and  each  has  a 
flourishing  school.  Wingate,  six  miles  east  of  Monroe,  is  a  thriv- 
ing village  with  a  splendid  high  school. 


14 


Till-:  cnCX-I'V  (i()\KIJNMKNT. 

The  people  of  Union  counly  wisely  entrust  their  affairs  only 
in  the  hanils  of  honest,  intelli,!^ent  and  faithful  public  ser- 
vants. ]t  is  a  county  in  which  the  people  themselves  rule. 
Under  the  ])rini;uy  >y>t('ni  for  selecting  candidates  every  suc- 
cessful candiilatc  innst  rnn  before  the  people  twice  before  getting 
his  ofhce.  And  aft'jr  he  gets  it  he  must  prove  himself  honest, 
efficient  and  accommodating  or  his  services  are  dispensed  with  at 
the  first  opportunity.  Tlio  county  officials  of  Union  have  always 
been  men  who  have  fully  justified  the  confidence  reposed  in  them 
by  the  people. 


THE  r.<»\i;i)  oi'  coi'xiv  commissioners. 


W.  F.   .MOliOAN.  niAlKMAX. 


W.  F.  .Miirgan,  the 
iliairnian  of  the  board  of 
County  commissioners,  is  a 
nan\c  of  Anson  county  but 
moved  to  Union  many 
years  ago.  For  the  past 
several  years  he  has  re- 
sided in  Monroe.  He  has 
served  four  years  as  alder- 
man of  tlie  city  and  did  so 
vei-y  acceptably.  In  1808 
he  was  elected  on  the  board 
0  f  county  commissioners 
a. id  re-elected  in  1900. 
Mr.  ^lorgaii  is  a  Democrat 
in  politics  and  is  very  pop- 
ular with  the  people.  As 
a  commissioner,  he  is  cau- 
tious and  w^atchful  of  the 
people's  interests. 


15 


A.  J.  Brooks  is  IT  years 
old,  a  nalive  of  Union 
county,  and  a  successful 
farmer.  He  has  been  called 
to  fill  several  positions  of 
honor  and  trust  and  ahvays 
filled  them  acceptably.  He 
was  appointed  a  justice  of 
the  peace  in  1885  and  has 
held  the  office  ever  since. 
In  1896  he  was  elected 
county  conimissionei-  and 
was  the  only  one  of  the 
Democratic  candid  a  t  e  s 
elected  on  the  boai-d.  In 
1899  he  was  appointed  as 
a  member  of  the  lioard  of 
education  and  elected  its 
chairm:ri.     In     Dec-ember. 


\.  J.  BltOOK.S. 

i  "!'<),  he  resigned  that  of- 
iicc  to  again  take  his 
]ilaee  on  the  I)oard  of  coun- 
^y  commissioners,  to  which 
be  was  elected  by  the  peo- 
:  'e  in  Xovember.  He  has 
■^.'I'ved  as  a  member  of  the 
i  'emocratic  executive 
!  inmittee  for  1(3  years  and 
-•  a  genuine,  pure  Demo- 
rat  whose  services  have 
dways  been  at  the  call  of 
'lis  party. 


S.  E.  BELIv. 


8.  E.  Belk  was  born  in 
T.ancaster  county,  S.  C. 
Dec.  8,  18-iT.  '  He  was 
raised  on  the  farm  and 
started  out  at  21  without 
a  dollar.  For  ten  years  he 


^G 


worked  at  the  niill-w  right  trade  with  the  late 
William  Crow.  lie  is  now  engaged  in  fanning  and 
running  a  flouring  mill,  saw  mill  and  cotton  gin  on  Lane's 
Creek.  !Mr.  liolk  has  hoen  romarkahly  sucfossful  in  life,  and 
by  industry  and  thrift  he  has  accuniulatcd  a  considerable  estate. 
In  1S98  he  was  elected  a  county  commissioner  and  re-elected 
in  1900.  In  managing  the  affairs  of  the  county,  Mr.  Belk 
exercises  the  same  prudence  and  economy  that  he  does  in  his 
own  affairs. 


B.  A.  Horn,  the  popular  shcrilt  of  Union  county,  was  born 
in  Lane's  Creek  towniship  in  1859  and  is  a  son  of  ex-sheriff  J.  P. 
Horn.  He  was  brought  up  on  the  farm  and  followed  farming 
as  an  occupation  until  1884.  In  that  year  he  became  deputy 
sheriff  under  his  father  and   held   the  position  for  ten  year:?. 

In  1892  he  was  elected 
chief  of  police  of  the  city 
of  Monroe  and  served  in 
tliat  capacity  for  a  short 
time.  So  efficiently  did 
lie  discharge  his  duties  as 
an  officer  that,  upon  the 
voluntary  retirement  of 
his  father  as  sheriff,  in 
1896,  he  was  chosen  by 
the  people  as  their  sheriff. 
In  that  year  the  county 
was  carried  by  a  good  ma- 
jority by  the  Populists,  yet 
Sheriff  Horn  was  elected 
as  a  Democrat  by  123  ma- 
jority. At  the  next  elec- 
tion in  1898  he  received  a 
majority  of  over  1300  and 
in  1900  there  was  no  can- 
didate against  him.  He  is  popular  with  all  classes  of  people 
and  no  county  in  the  State  ever  had  a  better  or  more  capabl-^? 
sheriff  than  B.  A.  Horn.     He  knows  his  duties  and  responsi- 


SllEKli'F  ]{.  A.   HORN. 


17 


bilities  and  he  goes  right  along  attending  strictly  to  his  own 
business  and  letting  every  other  person's  alone.  He  is  a  man 
of  few  words  and  runs  his  office  smoothly  and  without  a  jar. 
In  the  service  of  process  and  the  conduct  of  his  office  he  follows 
the  requirements  of  the  law  strictly.  He  collects  the  taxes 
promptly  and  has  always  made  his  settlements  at  the  times 
provided  hy  law. 

Sheriff  Horn  resides  in  our  splendid  jail  and  the  apartments 
occupied  by  the  family  are  elegantly  furnished,  the  parlor  con- 
taining both  a  piano  and  an  organ. 

The  prisoners  all  speak  in  praise  of  their  treatment  and  say 
they  are  well  fed  and  neatly  cared  for.  Our  plucky  young  sheriff 
is  altogether  an  ideal  officer,  a  superb  citizen  and  a  noble  hearted 
man. 


E.  A.  Armfield,  clerk  of  the  superior  court,  is  one  of  our  besb 
known  men,  having  been  in  business  in  the  county  for  more  than 
30  years.  He  completed  his  education  at  Trinity  College  in 
1858  and  then  taught  school  and  worked  in  a  bank  at  Greens- 
boro until  1860,  when  he 
moved  to  Georgia  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  re- 
sided in  Georgia  for  10 
years,  barring  the  time  he 
was  following  the  Confed- 
erate flag  in  other  States. 
In  1870  he  returned  to 
Xorth  Carolina  and  loca- 
ted in  ]\Ionroe.  He  at 
once  went  int<~>  the  mer- 
cantile business,  in  part- 
nership with  Mr.  A.  A. 
Laney,  and  continued  in 
that  business  until  1889. 
The  firm  of  Armfield  & 
Laney  did  an  immense 
business  and  contributed 
much  towards  the  growth 
E.  A.  ARMFIELD,  CLK.  SUPERIOR  COURT,  of  Monroe.       In  1889  Mr. 


18 


Armfield  moved  to  the  country  and  again  engaged  in  farming 
and  dealing  in  stock.  In  1898  ;Mr.  Armfield  was  elected  by  a 
big  majority  and  is  making  a  fine  clerk. 


John  W.  Townsend,  deputy  clerk  of  the  Superior  Court,  is  a 
native  of  Concord,  N.  C,  and  a  graduate  of  Trinity  College. 

He  has  resided  in  Monroe 
twenty-seven  years.  He  was 
in  the  cotton  buying  busi- 
ness  with   J.  M.    Fairley, 
Esq.,   for    nineteen    years 
and  book-keeper     for    the 
Heath  Hardware  Company 
five  years.     Mr.  Townsend 
is    an    expert    accountant 
and    cotton     buyer.       He 
makes  an  excellent  deputy 
clerk  and  is  a  most  excel- 
lent    gentleman.      He     is 
local  industrial  agent  for 
the  S.  A.  L.  Railway  and 
will   give    information    to 
parties  wishing  it  concern- 
ing Monroe.     The  compil- 
ers   of    these  sketches  are 
indebted  to  Mr.  Townsend 
for  valuable  assistance  and 


J.  W.    TOWNSEND. 


desire  to  acknowledge  the  obligation. 


J.  Millen  Stewart  is  the  very  courteous  register  of  deeds. 
He  was  born  in  the  Jackson  township — the  same  in  which  An- 
drew Jackson  was  born — on  October  28th,  1843.  He  posesses 
many  of  the  admirable  traits  of  character  exemplified  in 
the  life  of  "Old  Hickory."     He  has  made  Monroe  his  home 


19 


for  many  vpar?  and  has  served  ten  or  twelve  years  as  aldermau 

of  the  city.  He  has  always 
led  an  active  business  life 
and  enjoys  the  confidence 
of  everybody  who  knows 
him.  In  1898  he  was 
elected  as  a  Democrat  to 
the  office  of  register  of 
deeds  by  nearly  1300  ma- 
jority, wresting  the  office 
from  a  Populist.  He  is 
serving  his  second  term 
with  great  satisfaction  to 
the  people  of  the  county. 


J.M.STEWART.  KEG.  OF  DEEDS 

miles  east  of  Monroe, 
on  the  7th  of  May, 
1858,  and  staid  on 
his  farm  until  he  was 
elected  treasurer  in 
1900,  when  he  moved 
to  Monroe.  Mr. Wil- 
liams is  a  Democrat 
in  politics,  and  ha^; 
rendered  long 
and  faithful  service  to 
his  party.  His  name 
is  a  synonym  for  hon- 
esty, and  the  people 
know  their  money  is 
safe  as  long  as  he 
holds  the  public 
purse.  Mr.  Wil- 
liams is  a  gentleman 
of  courteous    bearing 


James      H.      Williams, 

treasurer  of  Union  county, 

is  a  farmer  by  occupation. 

He  was  born  about  5 


JAMt?  H.  W1LLIAM8,  TREASURER 


20 


and  has  given  the  people  entire  satisfaction.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Royal  Arcamiin,  a  consistent  nionilKT  of  the  r?n]»tist  church 
and  one  of  our  very  best  men. 


J.  II.  I'...\ic 


rate  ;i 


is  a  native  of  T^uion  county,  born  February 
l.'^th,  18  no.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm  and  for 
several  years  followed  far- 
ming and  teaching  school. 
He  received  his  education 
at  the  Xorth  Carolina  Col- 
lege and  at  Concordia  Col- 
lege, in  Catawba  county. 
Later  hv  attended  Scott's 
Woodlawn  Business  Col- 
lege. He  came  to  Monroe 
in  18S9  and  in  1897  was 
appointed  surveyor,  on  tiie 
death  of  the  late  M.  D.  L. 
Biggers.  He  was  elected 
by  the  people  in  1898  and 
re-elected  in  190U,  and  Mr. 
Boyte  has  made  an  accu- 
urvevor. 


21 


EOAD  IMPROVEMENT. 


One  of  the  objects  of  pride  Avith  the  people  of  this  vicinity  is 
the  work  which  is  being  clone  for  the  improvement  of  the  public 
highways.  For  six  years  we  have  had  a  convict  force,  ranging 
from  twenty  to  sixty  hands,  constantly  at  work  in  opening  new 
roads  or  straightening  old  ones  and  grading,  and  to  some  extent 
rocking.  All  the  main  highways  leading  from  the  town  are 
graded  to  a  greater  or  less  distance,  and  the  total  number  of 
miles  graded  is  now  between  thirty-tive  and  forty.  An  immense 
amount  of  work  has  been  done.  It  has  been  necessary  to  make 
a  great  numy  very  large  fills  and  deep  cuts,  and  the  grades  now 
attained  will  be  permanent.  Soon  there  will  be  the  finest  op- 
portuiiity  for  macadamizing.  Something"  has  already  been  done 
in  this  line.  It  is  the  policy  of  the  commissioners  to  improve 
the  worst  sections  as  they  go  along.  It  should  be  remembered 
that  only  about  four  months  in  the  year  is  the  weather  such  as 
to  make  roads  bad.  and  with  the  leveling  and  grading  that  is  be- 
ing done,  we  already  have,  for  six  to  eight  months  in  the  year, 
as  good  roads  as  are  to  be  found  in  the  United  States.  The  beds 
are  constructed  not  less  than  twenty-four  nor  more  than  thirty- 
four  feet  in  widtli,  oval  in  shape  and  thornnghly  packed,  and  so 
present  a  l)eautiful  sight.  Their  Avidth  will  allow  plenty  of 
room  for  two  tracks,  one  the  natural  bed,  which  can  be  used 
from  six  to  eight  months  in  the  year,  and  one  for  macadam,  for 
bad  weather,  stock  preferring  to  avoid  macadam  when  the  dirt 
sections  of  the  road  are  good.  The  convicts,  many  of  whom 
came  from  other  counties  with  sentences  from  thirty  days  to 
five  years,  are  well-kept,  and  their  comfcrrs  amply  looked  after. 
They  are  onlv  required  to  work  faithfully  and  behave  themselves.. 
The  svstem  has  not  only  been  of  vast  benefit  in  road  improvement 
but  in  the  saving  of  costs  in  jail  maintenance  and  in  deterring 


22 


criminals  who  have  no  dread  of  jail  imprisonment.  The  com- 
missioners personally  direct  the  operations  of  the  force,  through 
their  excellent  superintendent,  Mr.  B.  T.  Fletcher.  The  origin 
and  progress  of  the  work  may  not  be  uninteresting: 

"It  is  ordered  by  the  Board  that  Chapter  194,  Acts  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  1895,  entitled  'an  Act  for  the  improvement  of 
the  public  roads  of  North  Carolina/  ratified  the  11th  of  March, 
1895,  be  adopted  and  accepted  for  the  county  of  Union,  and  all 


CHAIN-GANG  AT  WORK. 


of  its  provisions  made  applicable  to  said  county,  and  said  chap- 
ter, with  all  its  provisions  are  hereby  ordered  and  declared  to  be 
of  full  force  and  authority  in  said  county  of  Union  from  and 
after  the  date  of  its  adoption.  The  Board  finds  as  a  fact  that 
the  revenue  of  the  county  for  ordinar)'  purposes,  and  within  the 


23 


limitations  prescribed  by  the  Constitution,  is  insnificient  to  meet 
the  necessary  expenses  of  constructing,  repairing  and  improving 
the  public  roads  of  the  county,  and  that  to  meet  said  tax  it  is 
necessary  to  levy  a  special  tax  for  the  purpose  on  the  taxable 
polls  and  property  of  the  county  not  exempt  from  taxation." 

This  order  established  the  chain-gang  of  Union  county,  and 
on  the  meeting  in  June  when  other  taxes  were  levied  a  special 


^^^^^K 

:    '      If' 

^Ml 

^T^ 

.1 
1 

m 

H 

HHLct^^ 

^^ 

^^18^ 

m 

1 

"     .-«~*- 

?!^ 

1 

P 

•.,;V--  ■ 

-  ■»'' 

•  .   .-.-  _. 

-■■ 

■S 

1 

GIJADED  ROAD  AND  $3,000   IRON  BRIDGE 


tax  of  fifteen  cents  on  the  $100  worth  of  property  and  forty-five 
cents  on  polls  was  levied  to  support  it.  In  the  following  August 
petitions  were  presented  asking  the  Board  to  rescind  its  order 
levying  the  road  taxes,  but  it  refused,  dismissed  the  petition,  and 
ordered  the  tax  collected.  At  this  meeting,  Mr.  R.  B.  Redwine, 
who  had  done  so  much  to  bring  about  the  result  which  had  thus 
been  accomplished,  resigned,  and  Mr.  J.  ]\I.  Fairley,  one  of  the 


•v*4 


prei?C'iu  niiid  (•(iiiiiiii>si(nici>.  .-iiccci'dcd  liim.  Mr.  F;iirlt'y  lead- 
ing, tlu'  B(tiir<l  todk  u|)  witli  iiiucli  energy  tlie  wurk  wliieh  lias 
proven  so  satif^l'aetorv  to  the  jjeujile  of  the  eounty. 
A  five  ton  reversible  road  roller,  a  Buekeye  Hoversihle  road 
maehine,  five  scrajx-rs.  a  mad  plow,  anil  a  rooter  plow,  were  pur- 
chased. The  convicts  weri'  put  to  work  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  J.',s.  Howie,  and  in  September  of  the  same  year  Capt.  W. 
L.  Howie  was  elected  to  the  position  of  superintendent,  and  Pa* 
several  years  gave  the  most  faithful  service. 

The  legislature  of  189T  passed  a  special  act,  drawn  by  Mv.  R. 


OXE  OF  UXIOX  COUXTY's  GRADED  ROADS. 


B.  Eedwine.  confining  the  operations  of  the  chain  gang  to  ,Mon- 
roe  township  and  levying  a  tax  in  this  township  of  25  cents  on 
property  and  To  cents  on  poll.  The  same  act  ordered  the  county 
commissioners  to  levy  15  cents  on  property  and  45  cents  on  poll 
in  all  the  other  townships,  all  fnnds  to  be  kept  separately  and 
used  by  the  township  in  which  they  were  collected.     This  lattf"; 


27 


GOLD  IN  UNION  COUNTY. 


BY    JNO.    C.    BATES. 

Before  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California  the  Government 
obtained  the  yellow  metal  for  coining  purposes  from  the  South- 
ern States,  and  North  Carolina  produced  its  full  proportioo. 
Gold  was  discovered  in  these  states  at  a  very  early  date  in  our 
history,  even  before  the  Eevolutionary  war,  and  gold  mining  has 
been  prosecuted  with  more  or  less  energy  for  about  150  years. 

From  1832  to  1837  there  was  quite  a  boom  in  mining  in 
the  Southern  gold  fields,  and  considerable  capital  from  the 
North  and  from  England  M^as  invested  in  mining  enterprises 
south  of  the  "Mason  &  Dixon  Line."  In  1857  there  was  an- 
other boom  that  continued  up  to  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  War.  Since  the  close  of  the  war  mining  in  the  Southern 
States  has  been  spasmodic,  and  the  result  generally  has  not  been 
satisfactory. 

Mecklenburg  county,  of  which  Union  was  a  part  until  1843, 
has  been  known  for  more  than  a  century  to  be  rich  in  gold. 
The  territory  now  within  the  limits  of  Union  county  has  its 
full  share  of  the  precious  metal,  and  will  rank  favorably  with 
any  county  in  the  State  for  its  mineral  wealth.  There  arc 
many  mines  in  the  county  that  with  the  improved  methods  of 
mining  and  for  extracting  the  gold  can  be  made  to  pay  hand- 
somely on  the  capital  necesary  to  develop  them. 

The  failures  in  mining  in  the  South  have  not  been  because 
the  gold  is  not  here,  but  from  a  lack  of  improved  methods  and 
other  causes  understood  bv  mining  men. 


rp:sidexce  of  t.  j.  gohdox 


The  above  is  a  count I'v  home  of  rnion  county,  situated  six 
miles  west  of  to\m ;  the  owner  is  ^Ir.  T.  J.  Gordon.  He  hepm 
life  fifteen  years  ago  on  twenty  acres  of  land  received  from  his 
father's  estate.  He  now  owns  twelve  hundred  acres,  runs  fif- 
teen plows,  and  lives  in  comfort  in  the  fine  home  pictured  above. 
He  has  farmed  exclusively,  and  his  success  shows  what  may  bo 
done  on  a  I'nion  county  farm  with  brains  and  energy.  ]!« 
grows  cotton,  corn,  grain  and  peas,  and  pays  special  attention 
to  clover.  He  is  pnblic  spirited,  and  a  leader  in  anything  ben- 
eficial to  his  comraunitv. 


29 


DR.    T.    W.    REDWINE. 


Among  the  honored  citizens  of  Union  county  none  stand 
higher  than  Dr.  T.  W.  Eedwine.  Born  in  Davidson  county, 
N.  C,  April  18th,  1837,  he  attended  the  best  schools  afforded 
l»y  that  county.  He  read  medicine  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  N.  C,  under 
Drs.  Smith  and  Stedman.  He  located  at  Samuel  Howie's,  in 
the  western  part  of  the  county,  and  l)egan  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine in  September,  1846,  and  was  in  active  practice  for  53 
years.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  volunteered  and  went  to  the 
front.  In  September,  1861,  he  was  elected  captain  of  Company 
F,  35th  Regiment.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1875  and  represented  Fnion  with  great  credit 
to  himself  and  his  constituents.     In  1880  he  was  elected  presi- 

d  e  n  t  of  the  Union 
County  Medical  Society. 
Tn  1848  he  married 
Miss  Mary  A.  Clark  and 
they  were  blessed  with  sev- 
eral children,  one  of  them 
l:eing  Mr.  E.  B.  Redwine, 
of  the  ]\Ionroe  bar.  Dr. 
licdwine  is  a  quiet,  unas- 
suming gentleman  of  the 
old  school  and  his  aim  in 
life  has  been  to  make  an 
honorable  and  useful  phy- 
sician and  a  good  citizen. 
In  that  aim  his  every  as- 
piration has  been  realized. 
In  his  declining  years  he 
has  the  conscious  know- 
. ledge  of  a  life  well  spent, 
and  that  he  possesses  the 


DR.  T.  W.   REDWIXE. 


love  and  esteem  of  his  neio'hbors. 


30 


MONROE. 


In  Ihc  stcnily  proifrcss  of  the  Xcw  Soiitli  tiic  tliriving  town 
of  ]\I<»iir()(>,  the  county  scat  of  Union  county,  is  bearing  its 
full  part.  The  site  for  the  town  was  selected  in  18  44.  The  com- 
missioners to  locate  tlie  countv  seat  Ix-iiiir  instructeil  \n  find  the 


RESIDENCE  OF  MRS.  E.   E.  FITZGERALD. 


centre  of  the  county  and  to  select  a  place  for  the  court  house 
within  at  least  two  miles  of  the  central  point,  first  chose  High 
Hill,  two  miles  north  of  here,  but  not  being  able  to  obtain  land 
there,  selected  the  point  on  which  the  town  now  stands.  The 
name  of  President  James  Monroe  was  given  to  the  new  county 


31 


seat.  The  growth  of  the  town  has  never  been  by  jerks;  it  has 
been  slow,  but  what  has  been  achieved  is  permanent  and  sub- 
stantiah     The  population  inside  of  the  incorporate  lines,  which 


PKBSBYTERIAN    CHURCH. 

are  not  much  extended,  is  2,500,  and  that  of  the  suburbs  being 
added,  the  whole  is  about  4,000. 

BUSINESS  AND  ENTERPKISE. 

The  town  has  never  had  any  large  capitalists  to  develop  her 
resources  and  her  achievements  of  a  progressive  nature  have 


32 


foinc  liy  tlir  tmiicil  ;ui;nn  of  licr  citizens.  In  this  way  a  foun- 
dry anil  inacliinc  siinj)  wciv  l>ui!t  a  nunibcr  <»f  years  aj,^);  also 
a  cotton  mill,  an  oil  mill  and  a  roller  ll(»ur  mill  have  heoii 
erected  the  same  way.  The  people  are  reatly  to  unite  in  any 
promisin_Lr  t'nter|)rise  with  any  pai'tiis  who  wish  to  east  their  lots 
with  them.  Merehandisini:  h;is  Keen  the  prinei|)le  oeeupation, 
owinof  to  the  l.iriit    ti-;i(lc  area  which  the  town  has  heeii  ahle  to 


RESIDENCE  OF  T.  P.  DILLOX. 


supply.  For  years  a  large  wagon  trade  has  come  here,  not  only 
from  this  and  surounding  counties,  but  from  South  Carolina. 
With  better  railroad  facilities  the  jobbing  trade  has  been  growing 
and  Monroe  is  certain  to  become  a  fine  distributing  point  in  the 
near  future.  The  people  are  also  turning  their  attention  to 
manufacturing,  and  with  the  beginning  already  made,  are  in  a 
position  to  go  forward.     Splendid  manufacturing  sites  may  be 


33 


had  at  very  lou"  figuivs,  aiul  the  people  and  the  municipality  am 
ready  to  offer  all  inducements  and  co-operation  to  promoters  of 
any  manufacturing  enterprises.  Furniture  manufacturing- 
would  be  a  fine  business  here,  owing  to  the  proximity  of  the 
hard  wood. 


TEAXSPORTATIOJ^ 


Monroe  is  finely  situated  on  the  Seaboard  Air  Line,  at  the 
junction  of  the  Georgia,  Carolina  and  ^Torthern  with  the  C'aro- 


RESIDENCE  OF  DR.  J.  M.  BLAIR. 


lina  Central,  thus  having  outlets  in  three  directions.  At  no 
distant  date  another  road  Avill  reach  here.  This  is  the  one 
from  McBee,  >S.  C,  to  Jefferson,  ^yhen  this  reaches  Monroe, 
its  objective  point,  another  fine  trade  section  will  be  opened  up! 
3 


;u 


iii:.\i;rii. 

'Plicrc  cini  nossihly  \k'  iio  more  lu-iiltlilul  town  than  Monroe. 
Addi'il  to  tlic  attractions  of  climate,  descrilied  clsewliere,  is  t!ic 
w  liolcsoinenes<  ol'  tlic  aiMesiaii  water,  with  wliich  the  town  hu-^ 
suppliiMl   itself.      The  wells  are   nearly  one  lhon>and    feet    dei-]!. 


IJAI'TIST    rlllKCli. 


The  water  is  pure,  si^ft  and  delightful.  This  has  had  a  marked 
effect  upon  the  health  of  the  peo])le.  OHieial  statistics  show  that 
only  eighteen  deaths  occunvd  in  town  from  all  causes  in  1900. 
and  only  thirteen  in  1901.  This  was  among  the  M'hole  popula- 
tion, white  and  colored,  and  from  all  causes,  not  even  excepting; 


ol(]  (\'j;v  and  iiir.intilc  disi'nscs.  There  has  not  hepii  a  deatli  from 

fever  in  three  years,  and  none  from  eonsuin])tion  among  whites 

in  the   same   length   of   time.  Can    any   other   ])hK'e   show    jo 
fine  a  record  ? 

SCHOOL  AND  CHURCHES. 

The  wisdom  of  the  ])eo[)le  in  voting  to  establish  a  graded 
school  is  being  amply  demonstrated.  Schools  and  chnrches  go 
ai'm  in  arm  in  their  influence  for  the  npbuilding  of  communi- 


RK'SIDEXCE    OF    CAPT.    C.    L.    YOUNGBLOOD. 


ties.  In  the  matter  of  chnrches,  Monroe  is  far  ahead  of  manv 
larger  towns.  The  Baptist,  ]\rethodist,  Presbyterian,  Episcopal 
and  TiUtheran  denominations  all  have  nice  church  buildings. 
The  new  buildings  of  the  Presbyterian  and  Methodist  congre- 
gations are  a  credit,  not  onlv  to  these  congregations,  but  to  the 


30 

\vli<)l(>  town.  T}\vy  aro  iii<»(l«'ls  of  iiKMlmi  cliiinli  .inliitrrinro. 
^lonroc  people  are  a  eliurcli-^oini.''  t"lk  and  tliev  take  un  at  pride 
in  tlieir  elninli  work. 

FKATKIJVAT-  01JDE1?S. 

The  ^ra:*on>,    Knij:lit>  of    rvtliin>,   Wooilnieii   of  ilie   World. 


Rr-;sn>KNCK  OF  T.  j.    SHANNON. 

"Roval    .Arcanum.   Odd    Fellow>5  and   TTeptasoplis  all   have  larg'e 
ori;':inizntion<. 

TOWX  ()\V\S  WATER  AXD  TJOTTT  PLAXTS. 

IVronrne  own;*  its  own  water  and  lif,dit  ])lants.  Its  water  is 
spoken  of  at  len.fftli  elsewhere.  Water  and  lights  are  furnished 
residents  at  n  uiininiuni  eost.     The  fine  eleetrir  li<.dit  plant  has 


oi\rn  cut i IV  satisfaction  since  its  inauguration,  and  the  streets 
arc  tlioroughly  lighted.  The  power  which  runs  the  pumps  in  the 
wells  and  the  force  pumps  which  are  used  instead  of  a  standing 
pipe  also  runs  the  dynamos.  The  tire  department, 
though  volunteer,  is  very  efficient.  In  recent  fires  the 
nieu  have  done  work  that  would  have  been  creditable 
to  city  firemen.  Dr.  S.  J.  Welsh  is  chief  of  the  de- 
])nrtuie:n;  Davis  Armfield.  assistant  chief;  Dr.  W.  B.  Houston, 


METHODIST  CHURCH. 

foreman ;  J.  F.  Correll  and  A.  W.  Boyte,  assistant  foremen  ; 
John  Fullenwider,  secretary ;  J.  S.  B.  Hart,  treasurer ;  J.  F.  Cor- 
rell and  J.  W.  Davis,  engineers. 

HOMES  AXD  LIYIXG. 


A  very  large  per  cent  of  the  residents  of  Monroe  own  their 
own  homes.     Home  Imilding  is  comparatively  easy  here.     Lots 


38 


cii'c  clu'iiii.  ;iii(l  men  luuililc  lo  IjiiiM  willioiit  aid  can  casilv  find 
liclji  in  the  Miinroc  liuildin^-  (\:  l^nan  Assncialioii,  sjjokcn  nf 
i'IvcwIktc,  or  I'roni  other  t^oiinrs.  \\'hat  more  docs  one  of  mod- 
erate income  want  than  a  home  in  sucli  a  town  as  Monroe? 
I  lealtlit'\ihiess  is  incoin|iaralile :  li\in<i:  is  chea|);  hntises  easily 
(.htained -.  school  and  cliurch  ta(ilitie>  unsur]iassed.      'I'here  is  no 


AT  'riu;  COTTON  ri.Aii-()i;M. 


rowdynoss  noi'  law  hicakiniz'.  There  are  no  saloons,  and  parents 
are  assured  that  iiomIici-c  will  they  find  more  favorahle  sur- 
roundincjs  amid  which  to  locate  ilieir  homes  and  I'car  tht-ir  chil- 
dren. There  are  handsome,  modern  dwellincfs  here,  cozy  homes 
and  modest  little  cottai^-es.  and  one  can  find  somethins:  to  suit 
h'oth  taste  and  juirse.  to  ]m\\  l)nild  or  rent. 


39 

Sr.M.AIAKY. 

Siunniarizing-  the  tliiiii;s  that  have  been  said,  Monroe  and 
Union  county  ofi'er  to  the  capitalist  and  manufacturer  good 
opportunities  for  investment  and  development,  cheap  land,  cheap 
labor,  cheap  material  at  first  hand,  and  co-operation  in  enter- 
pri-^e:  to  home-seekers  they  offer  an  ideal  sitiiation ;  to  the  weak 
thev  offer  healthful  conditions ;  to  farmers  seeking  better  climate 


RESIDFXCK   OF   K.    F.    BEASLEV. 

they  ofi'er  soil  and  climate  that  produce  anything  known  to  the 
temperate  zone;  to  all  they  offer  a  hearty  welcoine  and  a  helping- 
hand.  In  this  book  is  told  of  juany  of  the  things  we  have  here. 
Many  of  those  who  have  helped  to  make  the  town  and  occupv 
places  of  trust,  respect  and  usefulness,  are  also  s])oken  of  in  these 
pages. 


40 


('llAMr.!:iJ  OF  COMMKIICK. 

AFonroc  lias  an  active  Chamber  of  Commerce,  of  which  ^Ir. 
W.  S.  Lee,  one  of  our  most  cnterprisinj;  husiiiess  men,  is 
president,  Mr.  J.  E.  Clark  secretary,  and  Frank  Armlield,  Esq., 


EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 


secretary-treasurer.     The  otlieers  will  gladly  furnish  any  infor- 
mation recjardinor  the  town  or  countv.  I 


:\roxT]r)K"s  autestax  water. 


Xot  the  least  among  the  attractions  of  Monroe  is  its  unexcelled 
artesian  water.  It  is  not  a  panacea  for  ('vcnj  ill  that  afflicts 
hnmanitv.     It  is  not  the  "Fountain  of  Life"  for  which  thousands 


41 

have  so  eagerly-  souglit  for  centuries— a  certain  shield  for  '•'all 
the  evils  that  wait  on  mortal  life,  from  pain  and  death  forever-" 
but  It  IS  a  most  excellent  remedy  for  indigestion,  dyspepsia,  all 
kinds  of  gastric  and  kidney  troubles,  rheumatism,  lassitude 
debility  from  overwork,  that  "tired  feeling"'  that  comes  upon 
one  when  the  season  is  changing  from  snow  and  ice  into  the 
balmy  sunshine  and  gentle  breezes  of  spring;  in  fact,  were  we 
to  state  in  this  article  how  many  cures  have  been  made  by  this 


RESIDENCE  OF   J.   E.    STACK. 


water  in  the  last  two  years,  since  it  began  to  be  used,  it  would 
sound  like  fiction  or  a  tale  from  the  Arabian  Alights. 

Distilled  and  compounded  in  Xature's  own  laboratory,  more 
than  one  thousand  feet  beneath  the  earth's  surface,  it  is  far 
heyond  the  reach  of  baccilli  or  fever  germs,  and  there  is  no 
recorded  case  of  typhoid  fever  in  our  city  since  tliis  water  came 


i-.^ 


into  m'licnil  use,  ('.\tr|tt  ill  cast's  wlicn-  tlit-v  cDiitiniKMl  to  u>'> 
coimnoii  well  water.  As  it  ,i:ur;rlcs  uji  from  the  foimtaiii  (k'ptli< 
in  two  streams  of  in-^,s  and  SMiM  IVct  deep,  tlirou<:li  solid  slato 
rock,  it  lairsts  into  tho  cistern  and  water  mains,  limpid  and 
si»arklin«j:,  clear  as  crvstal  and  almost  absolutely  pure. 

The  official  analysis,  made  liy  tlie  State  Chemist,  is  as  follows: 
Total   s(»lid   matter   in   solution.    11. 1>   ,uraiiis   jxt    I'.    S.   «ral. 


LUTJ1EI?AX   CHIKCII. 


'I'iital  solids  consist  of:  Calciiim  liicarlionate.  T.47  ,irrains  per 
U.  S.  gal:  so(li\iin  cldoridt'.  1.98  fjraiiis  ])er  l'.  S.  tral ;  organic 
matter,  sohdde  silica,  magnesium  sulphate.  2.45:  iron  biear- 
Itonate.  free  carbonic  acid  gas.  .30  cubic  inches  per  gal.;  no  sul- 
]iliur  present  as  gas. 

Bv  this  analysis  is  shown  that  the  ]\Ionroe  Artesian  water  is 
unsurpassed  bv  anv  other  in  Xorth  Carolina,  or  as  to  that,  in  the 
South. 


43 


The  fitv  fatluTs  liave  eivcti'd  a  nice  pavilion,  lianl  l)V  tlie  well, 
where  all  who  choose  can  go  at  any  time  of  the  dav  or  night 
and  drink  the  water  as  it  comes  fromthewell,  and  thus  ohtain 
all  the  benefits  that  it  gives.  The  water  is  better  at  the  well 
than  from  the  mains,  as  some  of  the  healthful  gases  escape  before 
it  gets  from  the  cistern  into  tlie  water  pipes  and  to  the  houses. 

Knowing  the  great  value  of  this  water,  we  cannot  see  any 
peculiar  reason  why  parties  from  the  malarial  sections  should 
go  further  up  the  country  to  spend  the  summer,  and  endure  haivl 


residp:xce  of  dr.  j.  w.  xeal. 


beds  and  rough  fare  of  so}ne  watering  places  when  they  could 
come  here  and  enjoy  all  the  comforts  of  home  in  Monroe's  excel- 
lent private  houses  and  first  class  hotels.  :\ronroe  is  high  enouo-!i 
above  the  sea  !e\el  to  lie  free  from  malaria — the  climate  is 
delightful — very  few  sultry  days  in  summer  and  not  manv  ex- 


44 


cessively  cold  ones  in  tlio  winter — good  graded  roads  running 
in  various  directions,  alfording  lovely  drives — splendid  livery 
accommodations — fine  churches^good  music — hospitable  and 
clever  people,  who  will  extend  a  genuine,  old  fashioned  Southern 
hospitality  to  all  who  come  in  their  midst.  Wo  might  say  mui-h 
more  in  this  article,  but  we  do  not  considei-  it  necessary,  as  we 


RESIDENCE  OF  A.   ^I.   STACK. 


hnoir  if  vou  come  to  Monroe  once,  you  will  he  a  constant  visitor 
thereafter.  We  are  willing  to  let  the  following  testimonials 
concerning  the  water  speak   for  themselves: 


Di;.    AsIlCKAFT  8    STATEMENT. 


Having  practiced  medicine  in  "Monroe  for  a  numl)er  of  years, 
I  have  had  ample  opportunity  to  ol)servo  the  health  and  pre- 
vailing diseases  of  the  town.     Prior  to  the  nso  of  the  Monroe 


45 

Artesian  water,  tlic  town  was  visited  almost  every  year  by  an 
epidemic  of  that  dreaded  disease,  typhoid  fever.  Since  the  town 
has  been  supplied  with  this  pure  water,  typhoid  fever  is  unknown 
to  ns,  except  now  and  then  an  isolated  case,  where  the  water 
has  not  been  used. 

The  Monroe  Artesian  wells  range  from  TOO  to  1000  feet  deep 
and  are  cased  from  top  to  bottom,  making  it  impossible  for 
fever-producing  germs  to  find  their  way  into  the  water.  Almost 
every  epidemic  of  typhoid  fever  implies  a  contaminated  water 
supply.  Besides  eliminating  typhoid  fever  from  the  town,  it 
exerts  a  most  beneficial  influence  in  uric  acid  diathesis.  The 
Monroe  Artesian  water  is  a  wonderful  patent  remedy  in  gouty 
and  rheumatic  conditions  This  water  exerts  a  stimulant  effect 
upon  the  kidneys,  and  thereby  aids  the  swift  removal  of  insoluble 
material  from  the  system.  The  ]\Ionroe  Artesian  water  corrects 
those  digestive  failures  which  are  responsible  for  the  production 
of  so  many  topic  materials  of  the  body.  J.  E.  Ashcraft. 

(Dr.  Ashcraft  is  one  of  the  most  successful  practitioners  in 
^NTorth  Carolina.     He  is  now  in  Xew  York  doing  special  work.) 

PRAISE  fro:m  a  high  source. 

Southwestern  Presbyterian  University,  Department     of     Chem- 
istry, S.  R.  McKee,  Ph.  D. 

Clarksville,  Tenn.,  January  15,  190-^. 
Hon.  K.  L.  Stevens,  Mayor  of  Monroe, 

Dear  Sir:  ^Yhile  in  Xorth  Carolina  during  the  past  sum- 
mer I  had  the  opportunity  to  use  ^Monroe  artesian  water  in  my 
family.  After  a  trial  of  ne,",rly  three  months  with  member.-> 
of  the  family  of  different  ages,  1  pronounce  it  a  most  excellent 
water.  Its  action  in  cases  of  impaired  digestion,  I  think,  j^ 
very  fine ;  and  I  predict  for  it  a  very  extensive  use  when  people 
become  acquainted  witli  its  beneficial  effects. 
Very  truly  yours. 

S.  E.  McKee. 

FRO:\I    SOLICITOR    ROBIXSOX. 

This  is  to  certify  that  soon  after  becoming  convalescent  from 
a  ten  weeks'  confinement  to  mv  hcd  witli  inflammatory  rheuma- 
tism, I  drank  the  artesian  v.ater  of  ilonroe,  X.  C,  for  one  week 


Ili 


and    received    i^icat    lielielit    t'iMlll    it.        I    elieerl'ldlv    rer  )|iiliit'Ild    II 

tiiidl  I'lieiiiiiat  ics.      Ill  my  dpiiiioii  ii   i-  \-erv  liiiu  water. 

I..    I  >.     IJiil'.INSON. 

iiatM  A  w  i;m.  known  insikanci-;  man. 

("liarlottc,  X.  ('.,  Jim.'  IC. 
(ieiitleiiieii :  It  iiives  iiie  LTeat  ))U'a.><ure  t<>  «ay  a  word  ij; 
praise  of  your  >|»leiidid  water.  1  have  iK-eii  iinicli  lieiiclittod 
liy  tlie  use  of  sanio — not  oidy  in  eases  of  rrcuci-jil  debility,  but 
re|ieat('(lly  in  cases  of  indigestion.  I  liave  aluavs  irained  in 
lloli  alter  a  .-l.-sy  of  a  few  days  in  your  pleasant  town,  'i'lu.' 
water  is  jiiire.  soft  and  >weet.  'IMie  "(piair""  is  lu'i,i:litened  ;!i 
pleasure  hi'cause  of  the  knowledu(.  that  i^ood  is  to  follow  the 
<lrinking.  A'ery  truly, 

V.  I"..  Mays. 

]:.\'rii;i;i.v  cri;i:i)  mi;,  moimms. 

l'ialei,i;h.   .\.  C.  :\lay  I».   l!Mi-.>. 
To  Mes.srs.  Stack  c^-  Beaslcy: 

I  have  heou  drinkinu'  Moiii-oe  ai-toian  water  ahout  six  weeks 
and  it  lias  entirely  cni'e(l  nie  of  dyspepsia.  I  have  been  rail- 
roadin*;:  in  Kentucky,  West  "N'iriiinia.  \'ir;j,-inia  and  Xorth  Cai- 
olina  for  twenty-two  years  and  1  jironounce  the  "Monroe  artesiai: 
water  the  liest  that  1  haxc  ever  used  and  chet'rfully  reconiinentl 
it  to  all  who  inav  he  suH'erinL;'  from  indiirestion  and  kidney 
irouhles.  .T.  S.  MoiMMs. 

Mn,L;ineer  S.  .\.  L.  Railway. 

USES  xo  oTiiia;   watki;. 

Charlotte.  N.  ('..  :\lay  1(».  l!i()-J. 
To  whom  it  may  concern  : 

This  is  to  state  that  1  have  been  usin^ti;  the  Monroe  artesia'.i 
water  for  more  than  two  years  and  take  pleasure  in  sayin<r 
it  is  till'  finest  water  1  have  evi'r  used.  I  use  no  other  water 
for  drinkini;-  ]iuri»ose>  in  my  family  except  from  the  artesian 
well  at  Monroe  and  have  not  taken  a  half  dozen  drinks  of  an\ 
other  kind  in  over  two  years.      It  is  absolutely  pure. 

11.   T.    HOLLI.N-S. 

r.  S.  IJv.  Po>tal  Clerk  from  .Monroe  to  Eutherfordton. 


testi:moxials. 
Hon.  0.  H.  Allen,  Judge  of  Fifth  Judicial  District  of  Norlh 
(.'arolina,  Kinston,   X.   C,  writes  that  he  received  substantial 
benefit  from  drinking  the  Monroe  artesian  water  while  holding 
two  courts  in  this  city. 

Eev.  S.  B.  Turrentine,  D.  I).,  of  the  Western  Xorth  Caroluia 
Conference,  testifies  to  its  health.ful  properties  and  states  that 
lie  considers  it  a  most  excellent  water,  especially  adapted  co 
persons  who  are  run  down  and  debilitated  by  overwork  or  who 
suflFer  with  any  kind  of  gastric  troubles. 

^         ^         ^         :^ 

Hon.  T.  A.  McXeill,  Judge  of  the  Seventh  Judicial  District 
of  Xorth  Carolina,  Lumberton,  X.  C,  says:  "The  people  of 
]\Ionroe  should  get  upon  their  knees  every  night  and  thanl. 
Almighty  God  for  blessing  them  with  such  incomparal)ly  fine 
water,"  that  no  place  he  has  visited  has  such  pure  and  delightful, 
health-giving  water. 

j\Ir.  J.  J.  bloody,  of  this  city,  an  ex-Confederate  soldit'V. 
bearing  in  his  iiody  the  baneful  effects  of  exposure  in  camp  and 
field  during  those  dreadful  years  of  war,  also  the  numerous 
wounds  received  in  battle,  has  for  years  been  almost  a  physical 
wreck,  unable  to  work,  sometimes  almost  too  feeble  to  walk 
around,  and  in  consequence  his  digestive  organs  completely  our 
of  gear  so  that  he  could  eat  nothing,  only  the  lightest  kind  of 
fond,  and  then  suffered  almost  death  from  indigestion  ar.rl 
dyspepsia.  About  two  years  ago  he  began  drinking  the  artesian 
water,  drank  it  freely  and  daily.  He  soon  began  to  gr(n'.- 
stronger,  his  strength  increased,  his  dyspepsia  disappeared,  he 
became  able  to  eat  any  kind  of  food  without  detriment,  his 
lassitude  and  debility  left  him  and  today  he  is  strong  and  healthy 
as  he  was  in  the  hey  day  of  his  young  manhood  and  says  thai 
Monroe  artesian  ^^'ater  did  it  all.  If  any  (uie  doubts  this  static- 
ment,  let  him  write  J.  J.  Moody,  Monroe.  X.  C..  for  veriiication 
of  the  same. 

A  lady  of  Wilmington,  X.  C,  was  in  an  exceedingly  barl 
state  of  health — could   scarcely   sit  up   and  could   eat   nothing 


48 


(.'\ce|)t  tli(^  M'l-v  li<rhtt'st  diet — was  wasted  away  to  almost  a 
shadow.  Slu'  caiin'  to  Monroe,  drank  freely  of  the  artesian 
water,  and  in  .i  little  over  one  month's  time  had  gained  aboiTt 
twenty  pounds  in  tk'sh  and  was  restored  to  her  pristine  health. 

*  *     *     * 

We  eould  "five  seores  of  cases  similar  to  these,  hut  do  not 
deem  it  necessary — a  tri.-il  <>{'  the  watci-  will  convince  the  most 
skeptical  of  its  merits. 

*  *  :!:  * 

The  state  Sanitary  Chemist,  after  an  examination  of  water 
of  various  towns  and  cities  says:     "Monroe  has  the  finest  water 

in   the  State."' 

A    CAi;!)    FIIO.M   ritUF.    JJLAII!. 

This  is  to  state  that  I  have  been  using  the  ilonroe  artesian 
water  for  only  three  weeks,  yet  I  feel  like  a  new  man.  I  have 
for  a  long  time  heen  troubled  with  costiveness  aud  compelled  to 
take  pills  regularly,  but  since  I  began  to  use  thsi  water  I  have 
had  no  further  trouble.  I  am  a  native  of  Boston  and  have 
traveled  over  most  of  the  Northern  and  Western  States  and  J 
have  never  seen  any  water  that  could  compare  with  the  Monroe 
artesian  water.  Besides  its  curative  properties,  it  is  perfectly 
pure.     It  will  compare  with  distilled  water  in  purity. 

Joirx  Blair, 
^hisic  Director. 

CrnED  IXDIOESTIOX. 

I  hereby  certifv  that  1  found  the  ^lonroe,  X.  C.  niineial  water 
very  beneficial  in  a  severe  case  of  indigestion. 

:\Ins.  W.  II.  Si  I  AW, 
3--?-.^  X.  ;]nl  St..  Wilmington.  X.  C. 

rSKl)  IT  FOri!  YKAltS. 

I  gladly  te<tify  to  the  merits  of  the  well  of  water  known  ;>> 
■'Artesian"  water  of  ^[onroc.  X.  ('..  drinking  it  exclusively  for 
four  years.  I  have  been  suffering  with  indigestion  and  could 
not  eat  «;olid  fcmd  and  since  using  the  water  have  l)een  greatly 
benefited.  I  consider  it  the  best  water  tn  l,e  found  anywhere. 
17esnectfullv.  }dHs.  J.  F.  Wiiishakt. 


49 


ACTS   LIKE  A  TOXIC. 


Charlotte,  N".  c.,  :\[ay  IC.   190-3. 
Messrs.  Stack  &  Beasley : 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  say  that  I  have  been  using  the  Monroe 
artesian  water  for  some  time  and  pronounce  it  a  splendid  water. 
It  is  o'ood  for  the  kidnevs  and  for  inditrestion  and  acts  like  a 


r^™!^^-^ 


MONROE  S    FIRE    CO:\IPAXY. 


tonic  in  building  up  the  system.     It  only  needs  to  be  known 
in  order  to  attract  people  to  your  s])lendid  young  city  to  live. 

Geo.  G.  Shanxoxhouse, 
Conductor  on  Atlanta  Special. 


50 


'ooooooo 


AM©T1H!EE  TMEM©. 

A1B©UT 

©E©E  UTMEA  WATEE. 


The  excellency  of  its  purity  and  properties  is  already  estal)- 
lished.  The  sick  and  feeble,  the  well  and  hearty  are  benefitted 
by  its  nse.  If  sick  it  helps  you;  if  well  it  keeps  you  so.  For 
dyspepsia  and  indigestion  and  all  forms  of  kidney  and  liver 
ailments  it  is  an  invaluable  remedy.  Whether  sick  or  well,  you 
could  not  do  a  wiser  thing  than  try  it.  We  make  a  specialty  of 
supplying  this  famous  water,  carbonated  and  plain,  for  drinking 
purposes. 


WE  USE  HT 

exclusively  in  everything  we  bottle.  Our  ales  and  soda  waters 
are  as  good  as  the  very  best,  because  we  use  only  the  best 
materials  and  are  very  particular  that  cleanliness  is  used  extrav- 
agantly. They  cost  no  more  than  the  common  kinds  and  are  far 
superior.  Our  specialties  are  ginger  ale  and  carbonated  watei. 
put  up  in  5-cent  bottles.  They  are  made  to  please  the  customer 
— in  quality  and  in  price — and  they  don't  disappoint. 
For  prices  and  further  information,  address 

Monroe  Bottling  Works.. 

Monroe,  X  .C. 


51 


THE  FOUNTAIN  ON  THE  SQUARE. 


"Tis  but  rarely  in  the  hurry 

And  the  rivalry  and  worry 
Of  hard  woi-k  that  I  may  wander,  seeking  pure  fresh  woodland  air. 

So  when  life  brims  o'er  with  trouble 

Or  success  seems  but  a  bubble, 
Oft  I  ramble  to  the  fountain  that  is  gurgling  on  the  square — 

To  the  calm  and  stately  fountain. 

To  the     spirit-resting  fountain, 
To  the  patience-teaching  fountain  that  is  gurgling  on  the  square. 

When   at  night,   sleep  flies  my  pillow, 

Thought,  upborne  on  every  billow 
That  comes  surging,  surging,  surging. from  a  mighty  seaof  care 

With  its  helmsman,  will,  contending. 

Wildly  roams  till  night's  drear  ending. 
If  I  do  not  seek  the  music  of  the  fountain  on  the  square — 

Seek  the  drowsy,  soothing  music. 

Seek  the  lulling,  measured  music. 
Seek  the  slumber-tempting  music  of  the  fountain  on  the  square. 

When  my  soul  lies  sick  with  sorrow, 

And  its  grief  seems  but  to  borrow 
Vigor  from  the  dragging  moments,  while  approaching  stalks  de- 
spair 

From  Contrition's  tear-stained  ashes, 

From     Remorse's  fearful  lashes 
Flee  I  soon  to  hear  the  laughter  of  the  fountain  on  the  square 

Hear  the  calmly  rippling  laughter. 

Hear  the  softly  gurgling  laughter. 
Hear  the  gently-gloatiner  laughter  of  the  fountain  on  the  square 

—FRANK  ARMFIELD. 


53 


THE  ( ;  ()  \  K 1 J  X  .M  K  X  T  OF  THE  TO  WX. 


l)FFICIALS. 


Aldennan  E.  ][.  Helms  is  a  member  of  the  firm 
of  E.  R.  Helms  (!*c  Co..  doing  a  general  grocery  busi- 
ness. He  Jived  on  his  farm  until  1884,  when  he  began 
teaching     school     and     Taught     f(n-     several     years.     In     1889 

he  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  in  Monroe.  In 
1892  he  began  the  present 
business,  on  the  corner  of 
"Windsor  and  Eafayette 
streets  and  has  built  up  a 
nice  trade.  He  is  atten- 
tive to  business,  public  or 
private,  and  is  as  honest  as 
Cato.  Many  matters  of 
responsiljility  and  trust 
liave  Ijeen  committed  to 
him  and  in  every  instance 
his  conduct  has  been  ac- 
coi'ding  to  the  letter  of  the 
law.  In  May,  1901,  Mr. 
1 1  elms  was  elected  an  ald- 
erman of  the  city  and  ha> 
made  a  conscientious  pub- 
lic servant.  He  is  the  kind  of  man  tliat  elevates  the  public 
service. 


James     E).      ^McKae     was   born  in   Anson     county.      Xortli 
Carolina.     Xovend»er  sixteenth.     ES58.     He    moved     to     ^lou- 


54 


.1.    U.    .McltAi-:. 

lie  was  elected  without  o[)- 
position.  Mr.  McRae  is  a 
very  successful  busines  - 
man  and  a  most  agreeabU- 
gentleman. 


S.  W.  Parham  was  born 
in  Henderson,  X  .C,  Jan. 
13,  1856.  He  has  been  v\ 
the  railroad  service  sinc-^ 
18T5  and  connected  ail 
that  time  with  the 
S.  A.  L.  and  its  pre- 
decessors. He  has  lost 
but  one  month's  time  dur- 
ing the   2T    years.     Cap'. 


roc  in  1S81  aiul  ha^ 
siiut-  made  it  his  hoiiu-. 
For  several  years  iie 
Worked  with  tiie  old  and 
reliable  house  of  A.  if. 
("rowell  &  Son.  In  1894 
he  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  with  Mr.  T.  C. 
Collins  and  continued  with 
him  until  September, 
1!>01.  That  business  was 
merged  in  the  "McRae 
Mercii utile  Co."  later  on. 
M  1'.  Mediae  is  serving  his 
third  term  as  city  alder- 
man. Twice  before  he  was 
elected  l)y  large  majori- 
ties an<l  the  last  time>  all 
])arties  united  on  him  and 


S.    W.    PAR  If  AM. 


55 


Parham  came  to  Mouroe  in  1890,  purchased  property 
and  will  likely  make  his  residence  here  permaneuv. 
He  was  first  elected  an  alderman  in  189-i  and  w?.s 
re-elected  and  served  until  1898.  In  1901  he  was  persuaded 
to  run  again  and  was  elected  by  the  largest  majority  of  any 
one  on  the  ticket  except  Mr.  McRae,  who  had  no  opposition. 
Capt.  Parham  is  on  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Graded  School 
and  an  active  church  man,  and  his  influence  is  always  for  the 
good  of  the  comnuinitv. 


George    S.   Lee   is    a    South 
reared     on     the     farm.       He 


GEORGE    S.    LEE. 


Carolinian  by  birth  and  was 
followed  farming  until  he 
came  to  Monroe  in  1880  to 
become  a  salesman  for 
]\rarsh  &  Lee.  He  worked 
for  that  firm  until  1886, 
when  he  opened  up  a  cloth  ■ 
ing  store.  In  1896  he 
joined  his  brother,  James 
H.  Lee  in  the  large  dry 
goods  house  of  Lee  &  Lee, 
mention  of  Avhich  will  be 
found  elsewhere  in  these 
sketches.  Li  May,  1901, 
]\Ir.  Lee  was  elected  ald- 
erman from  the  fourth 
ward  and  is  one  of  the 
most  popular  ofiicials  the 
city  ever  had.  In  his 
public     and     private     life 


Mr.  Lee  is  one  of  the  purest  and  best  of  men. 


Dr.  John  M.  Blair  was  born  in  Chesterfield  countv.  S.  C, 
April  3rd.  1864.  He  was  educated  at  the  South  Carolina  Mili- 
tary Academy,  at  Charleston,  and  the  Greenville  (S.  C.)   Mili- 


5G 


tarv  Tiistitiitf.     He  road  iiirdicinc  at  Cliarlcstmi  and  ^'raduatod 

a  I  tlu'  iiitMlical  collogi.' 
in  L  ()  u  i  ,<  V  i  1  1  c.  H  e 
lirst  located  at  Dudlev, 
S.  {'..  and  after  prait icing 
ilici'c  one  year,  located  iii 
Mniiii.c.  I  Ic  is  ii(»\v  ciiimty 
|>liysiiiaii.  local  surgeon 
..f  the  S.  A.  L.  Kailway. 
and  enjoys  a  good  prac- 
tice. .\>  a  surgeon  lie 
stands  \cry  high.  Ife  i? 
now  serving  iiis  third  term 
as  aldei'inan.  having  l)Pen 
clecti'd  in  I'.inl  as  alder- 
ii:an  at  large  lor  the  cit>. 
Dr.  J^lair  i.s  an  attractive 
convcrsationali>t.  a  nio-l 
coinpanionahle  gentleman 
an<l  an  all-round.  jam-ui>. 

DR.  J.  M.  BLAIR.  g"ed   fellow. 


57 


SEABUAKD  Alii  LIXE. 


••Tjii-:  Cai'itvl  City  Route."' 

\\'itli  (liiubl'j  daily  solid  vcstibuled  trains  brtwcen  the  Xortli 
7ir.d  South.  Quickest  and  most  convenient  route  to  Florida. 
Al-o  tAvo  splendid  trains  daily  between  Monroe,  Atlanta,  Char- 
lotte, Raleigh.  Portsmouth.  Richmond,  Washington,  Philadel- 
phia and  Xo\\'  York. 

Atlanta  Special,  daily.  Pullman  sleeping  cars  lietween 
Portsmouth,  Xorfolk  and  Atlanta. 

Seaboard  Fast  ]\Iail,  daily.  From  Xew  York,  connecting 
with  Federal  Express  from  Boston. 

Another  Li:mited  Train  to  Pinehurst.  Camden,  Florida.  Cuba 
iind  Atlanta. 

Sum:mer  Tourists'  Tickets  on  sale  at  all  coupon  ticket 
offices,  at  low  rates,  and  providing  stop-over  privileges  not 
offered  by  any  other  line,  with  option  of  diverse  route  returning 
to  Portsmouth,  Xorfolk  or  Richmond. 

Summer  Homes  Folder  and  (^ther  attractive  and  usefid 
illustrated  literature,  togetlier  with  valuable  information  fur- 
nished free  upon  application. 

The  Schedules  are  fine  and  time  (puck.  A  person,  after 
taking  supper  in  ^Eonroe.  can  g<i  to  either  Richmond,  Ports- 
mouth. .Vtlant;^.  or  Columbia  and  get  there  for  breakfast  the 
next  morning. 

The  service  is  fine,  road  bed  smooth  and  ti'ain  officials  careful, 
polite  and  genteel,  thus  assuring  to  travelers  pleasant  journeys, 
assured  of  safety. 

H.  S.  Leard,  T.  p.  a.. 
James  M.  H\ii\iA>x  Yice-Pres.  &  Gen.  Mgr.,  Raleigh.  X.  C. 

Portsmouth.  Ya. 

General  Oitices  are  at  Portsmouth,  Ya. 


58 


THE  S.  A.  h.  ROL'TKS   WD  Dlls  II  N  A  IK  IN  S. 

The  Seaboard  Air  Line  passrs  througli  (nic  of  tlif  most  fertile 
seetions  of  the  fair  Southland,  from  A'ir<j:inia  through  the  two 
Carolinas  and  Georgia  into  Florida,  tlu-  land  of  perpetual  Spring, 
the  Eldorado  of  the  health  and  pleasure  seekers.  Along  its 
borders  are  all   kinds  of  climate,  where  grow  the  grains  an<l 


THE  SEABOARD  AIR  LIXE  YARDS  AT  MONROE. 


fruits  of  the  northern  section,  the  golden  tobacco,  the  waving 
fields  of  wheat  and  oats,  the  fleecy  cotton,  the  luscious  peach,  the 
jnicv  apple,  the  seductive  grape,  and  the  toothsome  "water- 
millyon,"'  and  further  South  the  tropical  fruits — the  banana, 
pineapple,  guava,  and  cocoanut. 

The  section  immediately  around  and  adjacent  to  Monroe  is 
very  healthful,  free  from  malaria  and  moderatelv  fertile.     The 


59 


land  produces  wlieat,  oats,  corn,  peas  and  grasses  in  abundance. 
When  well  cultivated,  cotton  also  yields  gratifying  harvests  1 
those  who  use  freely  of  commercial  fertilizers  or  stable  manure. 
And  the  grade  of  the  cotton  is  the  finest  of  short  staple  cotton  m 
the  world— a  great  deal  of  it  grading  fair  and  middling  fair. 
(Cotton  men  will  understand  what  this  is.)  Fruits  succeed 
well,  especially  apples,  strawberries  and  grapes.  It  is  a  good 
section  for  raising  stock,  as  clover  and  nutritious  grasses  grow 
luxuriantly  when  proper  attention  is  paid  to  them.  It  is  a 
good  section  for  the  erection  of  wood- working  plants,  for  we  have 
an  abundance  of  the  finest  kind  of  hickory,  oak  and  pine  timber 
right  at  our  doors;  also  a  good  deal  of  poplar  and  some 
walnut.  Lands  are  cheap,  and  good  farms  near  enough  the  city 
to  be  convenient  for  market  can  be  bought  at  from  $6  to  $?0 
per  acre,  the  price  ranging  according  to  locality,  amount  of  tim- 
ber, injprovements,  etc. 

The  citizens  of  this  section  welcome  all  new  comers  who  vvish 
to  settle  in  our  midst  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  living  and 
helping  to  build  up  and  beautify  this  garden  spot  of  the  Pied- 
mont section.  The  city  of  Monroe  is  the  healthiest  place  in  the 
State  and  has  the  best  water  in  the  South,  and  offers  induce- 
ments for  capitalists  who  wish  to  erect  industrial  plants  of  any 
kind,  and  her  citizens  will  not  hesitate  to  put  their  capital  into 
business  with  other  parties  from  other  sections,  j^orth,  East  or 
West,  who  wish  to  locate  in  her  borders.  Any  further  or  spe- 
cific information  desired  about  the  soil,  climate,  timbers,  water- 
powers,  minerals,  lands,  etc.,  will  be  cheerfully  furnished  by 
J.  W.  TOW^^SE^D,  S.  W.  PAEHAM,, 

Local  Industrial  Agent,  S.  A.  L.  Station  Agt.  S.  A.  L. 

MONBOE,  K  C. 


GO 


Noii'l'll    MoM.'ol-: 


As  an  ilhist '-at  ion  of  tlic  material  growth  of  the  citv.  Wf 
wiiiild  call  attcntinii  in  the  suluii'li  kimwii  as  North  Monroe.  In 
I.^'Mi.  >i.\  L;cnt  lenieii.  .1.  M.  |-"airle\  anil  .1.  \\  .  Tow  nx'iid.  of  Mon- 
roe: ().  W.  ('ai'V  and  S.  S.  Hrowii.  of  ( Jrecnshoro :  l-'i'ed  ( '.  Itearil 
and  Majoi-  L.  A.  I'.ni'ke.  of  Aix-rfjoeii,  Soutli  Dakota,  jiurc-liasi'd 
of  tile  late  TIkk.  1).  W'incliestei'  one  hundred  acres  <»r  land,  ad- 
joininii'  the  iici-llni'n  coi-iMii-ate  limits  of  the  city,  platti'il  ahont 
lit  acre-,  iii'aded  >!reets,  set  out  shade  trees,  and  in  Octoiicr  ol' 
that  yeai-  had  an  auction  sale  at  which  time  one  hundrcf]  and 
ten  liuildinu'  lots  were  sold,  and  the  work  of  erectin^i'  I'esiilences 
was  heoim.  .\i  the  |H'esenl  time  there  ai'e  upwards  of  one  hun- 
dred comfortalile  homes  with  a  |io|iulation  of  Jive  hundred  or 
<i\  iiundi'ed  ]ieii|ilc.  1 'resiiy teiMan.  Metlioilist  and  Baptist,  and  a 
contented,  hiippy  and   pi'osperons  citizen>hip. 

Thus  the  march  of  cixilization  advances,  ami  where  only  a  IV'W 
short  years  at^o  was  an  old  pine  lield  with  nau,i:ht  hut  wihl 
flowers  and  ii'rasses  and  no  soumls  hut  the  siiihiuL;'  of  the  wind- 
amoni;-  the  pines,  and  at  ni^i'ht  the  hontini:'  of  o  vl.-  and  croak  of 
i'rous  and  chirpinii'  of  ci'ickc^ts.  ai-i'  now  heard  the  happy  voices 
of  childhooil  and  the  di'owsv  liiini  of  i-ontented  liouseholders  as 
tlM'\  enjo\-  the  !i(ini-<  of  rest  heneath  their  own  '^ine  and  fiii'- 
tree""  after  a  da\  of  labor  in  the  cotton  mill  or  railroad  yard, 
or  on  tlie  nciuhhoi'inu-  farms.  Tn  this  healthy  suhurii  ])erson- 
can  obtain  huildin^;-  lots  on  reaMinahle  and  easy  fei'ms  and  huild 
homes,  thus  bccominii'  peiinanent  citizens,  freed  from  the  bur- 
den of  rent  ]iavin,t:-.  and  moic  pi-o>perous  and  self-respecting  on 
account  of  the  propi'ietoi'>hip  of  their  own  modest  cottage. 


CI 


MOMjoK  (;kaded  school. 


-BY    PROF.    E.    C.    BROOKS. 


The  j\ronroo  Graded  Schools  were  organized  in  June,   190(L 
This  Avas  the  tliird  attein])t  and  the  interest  manifested  in  the 
opening  of  the  scliools  showed  that  all,  even  those  who  were 
opposed  to  the  extra  tax,  were  prepared  to  give  the  new  institu- 
tion the  good  will  of  the  town  and  to  go  to  any  reasonable  ex- 
pense that  e\'erv  feature  might  be  as  strong  as  possible.     TJie 
men  who  have  served  as  members  of  the  Board — :Messrs.  H.  B. 
Adams,  E.  A.  :\rorrow,  W.  S.  Lee,  S.  J.  Welsh,  S.  W.  Parham, 
J.C.  Fletcher,  A.  M.  Crowell  and  S.  0.  Blair  are  all  strong  bus- 
iness men,  and  they  have 
administered     the     affairs 
of  the  graded  school  with 
the  same  intelligence  that 
they  would  have  given  the 
business  of  a   jirivate  cor- 
]ioration.     At   the   end   oi 
the  first  year  they  realized 
tliat  the  salal-ies  paid  the 
teachers   were   not    suffici- 
ent to  retain  or  secure  the 
l)est  teachers  in  the  State ; 
and    with   their  character- 
istic liberality  they  imme- 
diately raised  the  salaries 
of  all  the  teachers,  and  at 
the   same  time   passed   an 
accompanying      resolutio?! 
that    for    the    future    no 
teacher  would   be  selected 
who   has   not   had   normal 
training  or  who  has  not  had  at  least  two  years  experience  in 
graded  school  work.     This  was  a  frank  admission  that  the  board 
of  trustees  believed  there  is  science  in  teaching,  that  teachino-  is 


PROF.  K.  C.  BROOKS. 


G2 


a  profession  requiring  skill  and  prcx  ions  trainin^^  Such  a  res- 
olution as  this  immediately  placed  the  schools  on  a  higher  plane, 
for  the  profession  naturally  received  a  liigher  consideration  in 
the  estimation  of  the  public  mind. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  year  it  was  observed  that  several 
students,  ranging  from  the  first  to  the  tenth  grades,  who 
for  various  reasons  failed  to  complete  the  entire  work  of  their  re- 


GKADED    SCHOOL    RUILDIXG. 


spc'ctivo  grades  must  either  spend  the  whole  of  next  year  in  the 
same  grade,  or  pass  over  the  work  that  was  left  unfinished. 
It  was  seen  that  with  two  assistant  teachers  a  bridge-work  from 
one  grade  to  another  could  be  secured,  giving  the  delinquent  stu- 
dents an  opportunity  of  advancing  as  their  ability  demanded 
and  giving  the  quicker  students  an  opportunity  of  passing  from 
one  grade  to  another  without  being  held  back  with  the  whole 
grrade  until  the  end  of  the  vear.     The  board,  after  considering 


63 


the  merits  of  such  a  plan,  selected  two  assistant  teachers.     The 
result  of  this  work  has  been  most  gratifying. 

The  first  two  years  has  been  spent  in  building  and  equippiu<> 
the  school.  Eecently  the  last  instalment  of  furniture  was  placed 
in  the  new  building.  The  entire  property  is  now  valued  at  abou; 
$20,000;  $15,000  in  buildings  and  equipment.  The  enrollment 
in  the  white  school  for  the  year  is  491,  with  11  teachers.  In  the 
colored  school,  220,  with  three  teachers.  This  school  is  doing 
work  of  an  industrial  nature. 


THE  BAR  OF  MONROE. 


The  bar  of  Monroe  is  among  the  best  in  the  State.  For  many 
years  it  could  boast  of  lawyers  who  were  the  peers  of  any  in 
JSTorth  Carolina.  The  present  members  rank  high  in  the  pro- 
fession and  have  a  wide  reputation  for  trying  cases  well.     They 

practice  law  on  a  high 
plane  and  observe  the 
most  rigid  ethics  of  the 
profession.  They  are  on 
the  most  cordial  relations 
with  each  other  and  are 
free  from  that  petty  spirit 
of  envy  and  rivalry  which 
mars  the  practice  in  so 
manv  counties. 


ROBT.    L.    ST?]VEXS^   ESQ. 

He    has    a    natural     fondness    for 


iiobt.  L.  Stevens  was 
born  in  Union  county  on 
the  11th  of  July.  1864. 
After  receiving  his  edu- 
cation, he  studied  law  un- 
der the  late  Geo.  JSJ".  Falk, 
and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  October,  1885. 
politics,     and     has   always 


(54 


Ik'I'II  an  activi-  worker  fur  his  jiarty.  Ili-  bnrr  the  hi-iiiil 
of  tlu-  lij,flits  in  the  days  when  thr  I'opulists  were  so  strong  aii<l 
was  (.'k'ct ».'(],  as  a  Democrat,  to  ri'incsciit  rnion  in  the  General 
Assenihly  of  1895  and  again  ri'in-cscnted  the  county  in  18!)!>. 
At  the  latter  session  he  introduced  and  fought  througli  the 
Legislature  tlie  "Stevens  Anti-Trust  Law,"  ii\cr  tlie  fierce  fippo- 
sition  of  tlie  hirelinirs  and  agents  of  innnniK.h.      In  ^fav.  U'oi. 


i..\\\   ()iii(i:ur  II I  I.I.I  \i;i)  iV  i,i:.\i  .mond. 

he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Monroe.     He  is  just  now  in 

the  prime  of  life  and  an  active  practitioner  at  the  !Monroe  bar. 


Keuben  W.  Lennnond  was  born  in  .Mecklenburg  county.  X.  ('.. 
^lay  20th,  1872.  After  leaving  school  he  taught  and  farmed 
from  1893  to  1899.  In  June.  1899.  he  was  elected  cotton 
weigher  for  the  city  of  ]\ronroe  and  also  engaged  in  merchandis- 


65 


ing.  Ho  studied  law  under  Frank  Armfield,  Esq.,  and  at  the 
Universit}-  of  North  Carolina.  He  applied  for  and  obtained 
license  in  September,  1901.  He  immediately  began  the  prac- 
tice in  Monroe,  forming  a  partnership  with  Iredell  Hilliard. 
Mr.  Lcmmond  is  a  self-made  man  and  is  rapidly  forging  to  the 
front.  He  is  a  good  debater  and  has  an  easy  flow  of  language. 
Messrs.  Hilliard  &  Leinmond  are  energetic,  careful  and  reliable 
lawyers. 


H.  B.  Adajns,  senior  meml)or  of  the  firm  of  Adams 
&  Jerome,  was  educated  at  Trinity  College,  North  Carolina, 
graduating  in  1870.     He  Ijegan  the  practice  of  law  in  Monroe 

in  1873.  For  thirty  years 
he  has  enjoyed  a  good 
practice  in  Union  and 
adjoining  counties  and 
in  the  Federal  courts. 
He  is  quick  and  accurate, 
and  has  a  genius  for  the 
law.  He  has  served  in 
l)oth  branches  of  the  (Gen- 
eral Assembly  and  was  a 
leader  in  that  body.  In 
189-1  he  received  a  very 
flattering  vote  in  theDem- 
0  c  r  a  t  i  c  Congressional 
Convention,  held  at  Lum- 
berton.  Mr.  Adams  is  a 
Mason,  Pythian,  Wood- 
man of  the  World,  and  a 
memljer  of  the  Eoyal  Ar- 
canum.    He  is  a   steward 

H.  B.  ADAMS,  ESQ.  .         ,        ir  +1     J-  ^       1  t, 

m   tJie    Methodist   church, 
and  a  teacher  in  tbe  Sunday  school.     He  is  also  a  trustee  of  tlie 


G(i 


^[oiirno  (iradcd  Scliool.     Mr.  Adams  is  a  gciitlcinan  of  afTalik- 
iiianiicrs  and  a  man  of  j:rcat  j)ers(>nal  poiilarity. 


Thomas  J.  .Irrdinc  was  Ikh-ii  in  I'nion  eonnty,  X.  C.  on  OctOr 
ber  2nd,  1S.")!».  He  was  educated  at  tlie  Monroe  Ili^li  Sohoot 
and  attended  the  law  school  of  the  hate  Geo.  X.  Folk.  Tn  Octo- 
ber, 1884,  lie  received  license  to  practice  law  and  located  in  All)e- 
iiinrlr.     Xovtli     Cai-oliiia.     In     iss!i     ]\r     uKucd     to     ^Tonroe. 

M  r.  Jcidnic  i>  a  sjilendid 
lawvcr  and  a  line  speaker. 
Ill  is'.i  I  ill,.  l)cino(Tats  of 
('altarnis  and  Staidy  ran 
hi  III  for  the  Senate,  but 
the  Fusionists  defeated 
hi  111  by  a  small  majority. 
Ill  18US  he  was  elected  to 
the  Senate  from  Union 
Anson,  liichniond,  Scot- 
land and  .Montgomery 
counties,  by  a  majority  of 
;!.-is<>.  In  1900  he  receiv- 
ed a  very  large  vote  in  the 
Democratic  convention  for 
Attorney-General  of  the 
State.  Aside  from  hi.- 
Tiios.  J.  Ji;i;o.Mii.  jirofessional  duties,  he  has 

written  a  Ciiiiiinal  Digest,  which  is  used  by  almost  the  entire 
profession  in  the  State.  He  has  also  written  a  political  novel, 
"Ku  Klux  Klan.  Xo.  1<V"  which  is  a  presentation  of  affairs  ii; 
North  Carolina  just  after  the  war.  He  is  a  prominent  :Mason 
and  Pythian.  Adams  X"  Jerome  do  a  very  large  and  successfid 
business. 


U7 


E.  C.  Williams  is  a  native  of  Union  county,  born  Feb.  4, 
1868.  He  studied  law  at  the  University  of  JSTorth  Carolina. 
After  completing  the  law  course  there,  he  was  licensed  by  the 
Supreme   Court  in    September,   1890,   and   at  once   located  in 

^-  Monroe  for  the  practice  of 

liis  profession,  forming  a 
^partnership  with  the  late 
T.  D.  McCauley.  ]\fr. 
Williams  has  always  com- 
manded a  lucrative  prac- 
tice and  makes  money  a? 
easily  as  he  makes  friends, 
lie  possesses  great  native 
ability  and  is  a  strong 
speaker.  He  argxies  facts 
well  and  is  a  very  effective 
jury  lawyer.  He  is  a 
iiiem))er  of  the  North  Car- 
olina Bar  Association  and 
serves  on  one  of  its  very 
important  committees.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in 
politics.  In  the  progress 
and  development  of  his 
State  he  is  always  on  the  right  side  of  public  questions.  He 
is  a  liberal,  frank,  big-hearted  lawyer,  of  noble  nature  and 
fine  appearance. 


E.    C.    WILLIAilS. 


Frank  Armfield  was  born  in  Union  county,  May  2-1,  1870. 
He  graduated  at  Trinity  College.  At  Trinity  he  won  the  de- 
Ijater's  medal  of  his  society  and  the  orator's  medal  in  a  general 
c  )ntest.  He  attended  Neff  College  of  Oratory  at  Philadelphia 
and  later  went  to  Yale,  where  he  received  special  mention  by 


68 


rnsidciit  ITadlcy.  Ho 
iiiok  tlu'  law  t'ourso  at  tlio 
I  nivorsity  of  North  Car- 
nliiiii  iiiid  was  a<linittoi! 
1(1  the  bar  in  Fchruan . 
IS!)  I.  lie  located  in 
Moni'Mc  and  smxx'cdcd 
I'lniii  the  very  first.  Mr. 
Annliold  is  ii  wdi- 
(•(|ni|)])cd.  all-round  law- 
yer and  llic  linn  ol'  Arni- 
licld  (.V  Williams  enjoy  a 
!ar>re  jn'actice.  As  a  law- 
vci'  lie  is  the  soul  (d'  lion-*!' 
and  ciiurtesy;  manly  in 
di'feal  and  modest  in  vic- 
l  iry.  He  served  one  year 
as  mayor  oi'  Monroe,  hul 
declilKMl  re-election.  Ilo 
]''UA.\K  Aii.M  I- ii;i,i).  is  a  nieinhei-  of  the  Xortli 

Carolina  Literary  and  Historical  Society  and  wi'ites  excellent 
poetry.  Some  of  his  poems  have  appi'ared  in  the  Xew  York' 
World,  Atlanta  Constitution.  Charlotte  Observer  and  other 
papers.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  ]ii-epai'ation  of  a  volume  ol' 
])()ems  for  publication. 


.J 

-^  <:> 

»- 

'vV      - 

V 

H^^^^^^^^T'.  ^^^^^^H| 

Mr.  K.  B.  Kedwine,  of  the  law  firm  of  Kedwine  &  Stack,  was 
reared  on  a  Union  county  farm,  and  began  life  as  a  farmer  and 
merchant.  He  attended  school  at  the  celebrated  Bingham 
School.  He  studied  laAv  under  the  late  Dr.  John  Planning  and 
Judge  Shepherd  and  obtained  license  in  1889,  returning  to  the 
University  and  taking  an  optional  literary  and  law  course  and 
receiving  the  degree  of  B.  L.  In  ISiH  he  began  practice  in 
Monroe  and  at  once  began  to  win  the  success  which  has  come  ^ 
so  abundantly  to  him.     He  has  given  good  public  service  a<      { 


69 


ehairiiiiui  of  tlic  lioard  of  county  commissioners  and  as  a  member 
of  tlie  hoard  of  ediicavion.  In  the  former  position  he  was  hirgel}' 
instrumental  in  establishing  the  chain  gang  and  inaugurating 
road    improvement    in    the    county.     He   was   secretary   of   the 

Democratic  exe  c  u  t  i  v  e 
'  ommittee  in  1894,  and 
('id  fine  work.  In  1895 
he  formed  a  patnership 
witli  the  late  D.  A.  Cov- 
ington, which  continued 
until  the  latter'a  death. 
His  present  partnership 
was  formed  in  1900.  He 
lias  always  been  a  gold 
s  andard  man  and  was  a 
! 'aimer  and  Buckner  elec- 
tor in  1898,  contending 
that  the  party  leaders  had 
no  right  to  force  fusion 
with  the  Populists.  He 
was  endorsed  by  the  coun- 
ty committee  for  judge 
in  1901.  Mr.  Eedwin3 
R.  B.  REDWiNE.  has  always  enjoyed  a  large 

practice,  both  civil  and  criminal.  He  has  the  absolute  confi- 
dence of  his  clients  and  makes  their  interests  his  own.  He  is, 
both  in  and  out  of  the  court  house,  the  personification  of  honor 
and  integrity.  He  stands  unflinchingly  by  principle  and  truth  as 
he  sees  them.  Mr.  Eedwine  was  married  in  1895  to  Miss  Sallie 
AVall  McAlister,  of  Walltown,  Anson  county.  He  devotes  what 
time  he  can  get  from  his  law  duties  to  farming,  at  which  he  has 
made  a  considerable  success. 


A.  M.  Stack,  Esq.,  was  born  in  Union  county,  February  12th, 
18G3.  but  most   of  his  boyhood  was  spent  in   the  West.     He 


(0 


graduated  at  Trinity  College  in  1884  and  obtained  license  to 
practice  law  in  October,  1885,  moving  tlie  same  fall  to  Winston- 
Salem  and  bccomiuir  editor  of  a  daily  paper  there.  In  18S()  he 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  R.  B.  Glenn  and  located  in 
Stokes  county,  where  he  enjoyed  a  good  practice.  For  several 
year?  he  wns  superintendent  of  public  schools  and  county  attor- 
ney. In  1S93  he  repre- 
sented Stokes  and  Surry 
counties  in  the  State 
Senate,  the  only  time 
tliat  district  has  ever 
been  represented  by  a 
Doniof-rat.  In  July,  1809. 
lie  returned  to  Union 
county  and  January  1st, 
l!'<>(i.  became  a  partner 
of  K.  B.  Redwine,  Esq. 
Mr.  Stack  is  a  fine  advo- 
eato.  and  is  at  his  best  in 
tlie  court  house  and  be* 
fore  a  jury.  He  is  quick 
to  see  the  salient  points 
of  a  case  and  puslie- 
them.  During  the  spriivc; 
A.  M.  STACK.  j^jj(j  summer  of  1901  Mr. 

Stack  took  an  extensive  trip  abroad,  visiting  Egypt  and  the 
Holy  Land  as  well  as  England  and  several  European  countries. 
While  on  the  trip  he  wrote  a  series  of  articles  for  the  Monroe 
Journal  that  attracted  wide  attention.  Since  returning  his  st'V- 
vices  as  a  lecturer  are  eagerlv  sousjht  after. 


71 


THE    MONROE    EXQUIRER. 


The  jMonroe  Enquirer,  B.  C.  and  Eugene  Asheraft,  proprie- 
tors, is  the  oldest  paper  in  the  eoiinty,  and  its  long  career  has 
been  one  of  extreme  usefulness  to  its  town  and  county.  Messrs. 
Ashcraft  Brothers  bought  the  paper  in  August,  1893,  and  have 
since  conducted  it  with  conspicuous  success.  The  paper  owns 
its  own  building,  which  is  elegantly  fitted  for  the  purposes  of  the 
paper.     This  office  is  well  equipped  and  they  have  a  large  circu- 


THE   OFEICE    OF   THE   MONROE    ENQUIRER. 


lation  and  a  fine  advertising  patrc^iage.  The  pajier  was  estab- 
lished in  18;-2  l)y  W.  C.  Wolfe  and  W.  J.  Boylin.  :\Ir.  Wolfe 
conducted  it  for  a  long  time  alone,  and  was  succeeded  by  ^fr. 
Boylin,  who  continued  to  run  the  business  till  1893  ^Ir.  B.  C. 
Ashcraft,  the  editor,  is  a  man  of  wide  reading,  and  each  week 
"gets  up''  an  interesting  paper.     He  is  <;f  liberal  edueation.  and 


was  the  first  student  of  tin-  A.  \  M.  ('oll('<:f  <tf  tlic  Statf.  Ul- 
has  been  chairman  of  the  county  board  of  (Mhication  ami  is  n*>\v 
treasurer  of  the  city  of  ^Monroe.  Mr.  Eugene  Asbcraft  is  a 
ver}'  fine  practical  ]trint<  r  and  Im.-iiiess  manager.  Messrs.  Ash- 
craft  Brothers  are  admirably  fitted  bir  tbcir  work  an<l  an-  malt- 
ing a  notable  success. 


TID-:  MONiiOT':  joukxai.. 


^loiiror  .Tonrnal  was  established  in  1894  by  ^Messrs.  G.  M. 

Beasley  &'  Bro.  It  has 
steadily  grown  in  business 
and  influence  till  it  is  now 
one  of  the  best  established 
weekly  papers  in  the  State, 
livery  year  its  circulation 
is  larger  than  on  the  pre- 
ceding one.  It  owns  its 
liwii  building,  located 
near  the  public  square.  It 
bas  always  l)een  Demo- 
cratic in  ]irinci])le  aivl 
outspoken  in  its  views  on 
public  questions.  It  has 
laltorcd  unceasingly  for  the 
material,  moral  and  edu- 
cational advancement  of 
the  county,  and  has  main- 
i;.  I'.  I'.KAM.i-.'i .  tained  a    constant    agita- 

tion for  lietier  schools.  Its  advertising  columns  are  always 
filled  with  good  contracts.  In  addition  to  the  paper,  Messrs. 
Beasley  Bros,  conduct  a  large  job  printing  business,  drawn  from 
Monroe  and  surrounding  towns.  They  do  work  equal  to  that 
furnished  by  city  establishments.  Mr.  G.  M.  Beasley  is  a  prac- 
tical man  of  fine  l)usiness  judgment.  He  has  been  in  the  busi- 
ness since  a  boy  and  is  thoroughly  at  home  in  a  printing  office. 
Mr.  R.  F.  Beasley  has  won  considerable  reputation  as  a  news- 
paper man    and   has  done  work   for  other  journals.     He  is  a 


r3 


graduate  of  Wake  Forest  College  and  has  been  superintendent 
of  education  of  the  county.  Mr.  J.  E.  Clark  is  the  local  editor 
of  the  Journal.  He  is  a  native  of  the  county  and  a  young  man 
of  talent,  and  enjoys  a  large  popularity. 


Dr.   John   Wni.   Xeal   was  born  June  35th,   1859,  in   Stokers 

county,  N.  C.  Grad- 
uated at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Xorth 
Carolina  in  1881 
with  the  degree  of 
A.  B.  In  1884  he- 
graduated  at  the 
University  Medical 
College  of  X  e  w 
York  City  and  at 
once  began  practice 
in  his  native  coun- 
ty, ({ranted  license 
by  the  State  Board 
of  Medical  Exam- 
iners in  1887  and 
again  returned  to 
New  York,  where 
he  took  a  post- 
graduate course  in 
DU.  J.   w.  SEAL.  general       medicine 

and  a  special  course  in  diseases  of  women  and  children,  com- 
pleting the  prescribed  course  in  1889.  In  1890  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  the  board  of  county  commissioners  and  served  for 
6  years — four  years  as  chairman  of  the  board.  Also  served 
three  years  on  the  board  of  education,  resigning  when  he  moved 
to  IMonroe.  Dr.  N"eal  is  a  cultivated  gentleman  and  has  always 
stood  in  the  front  ranks  of  his  profession.  He  has  been  re- 
markably successful.  He  came  to  Monroe  in  March,  1901,  and 
his  success  was  immediate. 


mi.  S.  A.   STEVENS. 

J)r.  Samuel  A.  Stevens,  son  of  the  late  A.  F.  Stevens,  is  thirty- 
one  years  old  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  fine  medical  practice. 
He  received  his  education  at  Trinity  College,  N.  C,  and  gradu- 
ated at  that  institution  in  1890.  After  leaving  college,  he 
taught  school  for  five  years,  first  at  Union  Institute,  in  L'nion 
coimty.  ;iii(l  later  at  Bain  Academy,  in  Mecklenburg.  He 
attended  leelures  at  the  University  of  Maryland  and  took  a 
three  years'  course  in  medicine  there.  He  went  before  the 
State  Board  of  Medical  Examiners  in  1899  and  obtained  license 
to  ])raetiee.  He  located  at  China  Grove,  in  Rowan  county,  and 
practiced  there  for  one  year.  He  then  returned  to  Baltimore 
and.  altci'  i^raduatiiiu-  there  in  1900,  he  came  to  Monroe  and 
formed  a  partnershi])  with  Dr.  W.  D.  Pemberton  in  May,  1900. 
Dr.  Sti'vens  has  a  very  fine  education  and  is  a  polished  gentlo- 
uiaii.  As  a  pliysieian  he  is  very  successful.  He  is  devoted  to 
liis  iirofessioii  and  keeps  himself  abreast  of  the  times.  He  is 
popular  with  his  professional  brethren  and  enjoys  their  respee: 
and  confidence. 


THE   GLOUCESTER. 

In  1898,  just  after  the  American  naval  victory  at  Santiago, 
]\Iessrs.  Gresham  &  Jamison,  the  well  known  hotelists  and  cater- 
ers, completed  their  preparations  for  the  opening  of  their  new 
hotel  in  ]\lonroe.  jSTo  name  for  the  house  had  been  selected,  and 
while  the  names  of  commanders  and  warships  were  on  every 
ton>:-ue,  some  one  suggested  that  the  new  hotel  be  named  for  the 
Gloucester,  one  of  the  American  ships  which  bore  a  conspicuous 
part  in  the  battle  of  Santiago.  Mr.  Gresham  adopted  the  sug- 
gestion and  the  splendid  little  hotel  became  the  Gloucester,  and 
under  the  skillful  hands  of  Messrs.  Gresham  &  Jamison  it 
soon  became  famous.  It  was  elegantly  furnished  throughout 
and  its  guests  sat  do^Ti  to  a  table  unequaled  in  this  section,  and 
little  surpassed  by  the  large  hotels  of  the  city.  When  other- 
enterprises  took  the  owners  away.  Mr.  J.  J.  Lindsey  leased  the 
buildino-  and  furniture  and  continued  the  l)usiness  for  a  year. 


On  the  first  of  last  January  Mrs.  Mamie  F.  Gaddy,  of  Wades- 
boro,  an  experienced  liotelist,  assumed  charge  of  the  Gloucester. 
Under  her  management  tlic  high  standard  first  set  has  been  fully 
maintained,  and  the  house  ia  now  enjoying  a  large  patronage, 
and  everywhere  receives  the  warmest  appreciation  from  the 
traveling  public.  Beside  the  regular  bnsiness,  many  tra\;elers 
make  it  a  matter  of  convenience  to  spend  the  night  tliere  rnthci' 


•THE    GLOUCESTER. 


than  at  adjoining  towns.  The  two  things  so  dear  to  the  trav- 
eling man's  heart  the  Gloucester  gives — a  good  bed  and  a  good 
table.  Persons  wishing  to  come  to  Monroe  for  the  benefit  of  the 
fine  water  will  find  pleasant  living  at  the  Gloucester.  A  rate 
of  $10.50  ))er  week  is  given  with  a  siiecial  rate  per  month.  Mr. 
Robt.  B.  Flake,  an  experienced  young  hotelist,  is  assistant 
manager. 


76 


.MoNitdK   'I'l-i.Ki'iioNi-;    i;\(ii.\N(ii;. 

There  ;ir<'.  iicrluips.  a  larp-r  jxTit'iitaLic  i>\'  tt'lcplume  su!)~ 
scribers  in  .Momnc  iliaii  in  any  otiici-  tnwii  in  X.  C.  Tliis 
is  due  to  the  lino  service  this  system  ^ives  ami  the  moderate 
rates  which  they  char<;e,  $1  per  montli  for  residence,  $1.50  for 
offices  and  $2  for  business  houses.  IMic  ( iiiii|iany  was  ini-orpo- 
rated  in  1898,  and  bet;aM  business  with  only  2S  'phones.  Ir,  now 
has  234  citv  subscribers,  with  connections  with  Charlotte,  Wades- 


.MOXKOK      THLHI'IIOXE     EXCHAXOE. 


boro,  Waxhaw.  .Marshville.  \Vin.ii:ate,  Polktou,  Peachland,  Liles- 
ville,  Rocking-ham,  ]\Iorven,  ^Vtatthews,  Mt.  Holly,  Lincolnton, 
Gastonia,  Concord,  Osceola,  Catawba,  Edgemore,  Chester,  Rock 
Hill,  Fort  Mills,  Lancaster  and  Kershaw,  and  with  hundreds  of 
places  in  the  county.  The  company  adopts  all  the  latest  and 
improved  ajiparatus,  and  its  office  is  open  all  day  and  all  night. 


In  tho  ofllcc  is  a  n',yiilatnr  and  snhsorilKTs  are  fnrnished  Wash- 
iniiton  time  when  they  want  it, and  tlu'  ottice  will  call  subscribers 
at  any  honr  of  the  niglit  to  meet  trains  or  for  other  purposes. 
Tlie  oflicers  are:  K.  A.  Morrow,  })resi(lent  and  general  manager. 
J.  D.  McKae,  vice-president ;  C.  A\'.  Bruner,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer; W.H. Norwood,  superintendent;  directors.  Dr.  J.  M.Blair, 
E.  A.  Morrow,  C.  W.  Bruner,  J.  E.  English,  Jas.  H.  Lee  and  J. 
D.  McEae;  operators,  Miss  Leola  McColl,  Miss  Claire  Eamsey, 
Miss  Dora  Aldridge;  city  collector,  Miss  Ola  Bruner.  The 
central  office  is  located  in  the  new  Belk  building,  in  quarters 
especially  constructed  for  it. 


T.   r.  DILLON, 


T.  P.  Dillon,  the  reliable  and  clever  furniture  man,  was  born 
in  Union  county  in  December,  18G2,  and  was  educated  in  tli(> 
schools  of  ]\lonroe.  He  first  embarked  in  cotton  buying  witJi 
J.  M.  Fairley  and  folloAved  that  for  nine  years.  In  1893  ho 
and  the  late  D.  McKenzie  engaged  in  the  furniture  business. 
In  1897  Mr.  McKenzie  sold  out  to  Mr.  Dillon,  who  has  since 
conducted  the  business  alone.  Mr.  Dillon  carries  in  stock  all 
kinds  of  furniture,  musical  instruments  and  undertakers'  su])- 
plies.  He  also  does  funeral  directing  and  embalming.  The 
writer  has  known  Mr.  Dillon  from  ))oyhood  and  knows  him 
to  be  an  honorable,  upright  Christian  and  a  gentleman.  II is 
pocket-book  can  always  be  counted  on  in  any  enterprise  of  public 
utility.  Any  one  wanting  anything  in  his  line  can  be  assured 
of  courtesies  and  pro|)er  treatment. 


LEE    AXD    LEE. 

When  a  stranger  drops  into  the  handsome  building  opposite 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  public  square,  he  will  receive  all 
the  favorable  impressions  usually  conveyed  by  an  up-to-date  city 
store.  This  handsome  ]iew  structure  is  the  "Lee  building,"  just 
erected  by  Mr.  Jas.  H.  Lee.  and  oecujiied  by  Lee  &  Lee  with 
their  big  stock  of  dry  goods,  millinei-y.  elotliing,  shoes  and  hats. 


78 


TliL'  building  is  three  stories,  and  one  of  tlie  prettiest  to  be  found 
anywhere.  Over  five  thousand  s(|uare  feet  of  floor  are  in  use  \y 
Messrs.  Lee  &'  T>('e,  with  double  that  amount  availalilc  There 
are  more  than  sixty  electric  lights  in  the  store  room.  The  co- 
partnership of  Lee  (S:  Lee  was  formed  in  1892,  by  Mr.  (ieo.  S. 
Lee,  who  was  in  business  here,  and  Mr.  Jas.  H.  Lee,  who  camo 
from  ^Marslnille  that  year  and  bought  tlic  Heath  \-  Williamson 
stock.     Before  the  end  of  the  vear  these  y:entlemen  moved  to  the 


i.Ki-:   r.rii.DiNG. 


Bickett  building  ou  Lafayette  street,  where  they  continued  till 
their  recent  removal  to  the  Lee  building.  ]\[r.  J.  H.  Lee  is 
the  manager,  owing  to  the  fact  that  ^Ir.  G.  S.  Lee's  health 
necessitates  his  spending  much  of  the  time  out  of  doors.  ^Ir. 
Lee  employs  a  force  of  ten  clerks  even  during  the  dull  seasons. 
Beside  the  active  nork  of  his  own  business,  Mr.  Lee  is  connected 
with   other  business  enterprises.     He  has   rendered  invaluable 


79 

service  in  the  constnu'tion  of  the  handsome  new  Methodist 
^hnrch.  He  is  a  most  i)ublic-spirited  and  progressive  citizen, 
-always  in  the  lead  wlicn  work  for  his  town  is  to  be  done. 


Twenty  years  ago,  come  this  fall,  a  young  man  of  23  years 

landed  in  Monroe.  He 
was  from  the  huckleberry 
state  of  Sampson,  coming 
liy  way  of  Wilmington, 
where  he  had  lived  some 
time.  His  total  wealth  in 
i-asli  on  hands  and  in 
hank,  stocks  and  bonds 
;ind  real  estate,  would 
probably,  by  a  liberal  ap- 
praisement, guaranteed  a 
month's  board  at  the 
modest  rates  then  in  vogiic 
— no  more.  Today  that 
young  man  is  a  thriving 
merchant,  has  land  inter- 
ests, and  is  altogether  ona 
of  the  most  solid  citizens 
A.  c.  joiixsox.  of  Monroe.not  alone  in  the 

success  of  his  business,  but  in  the  possession  of  those  elements 
of  character  which  give  a  man  weight  in  a  community.  A  pic- 
ture of  this  gentleman — A.  C.  Johnson,  Esq. — accompanies  this 
-sketch.  In  1882  Mr.  Johnson  began  a  little  grocery  store,  oper- 
ating for  several  years  in  the  old  Wolfe  building  on  Lafayette 
street.  In  1S86  he  moved  to  his  present  stand  on  East  Franklin 
street.  The  character,  push  and  ability  which  he  has  put  in  his 
business  has  told  well.  He  now  carries  on  a  large  cash  and 
■credit  trade,  deals  in  fertilizers  and  is  an  independent  cotton 
buyer.  He  is  a  zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  a 
]\Iason  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  He  has  been  elected  a  justice 
of  the  peace,  and  possesses  to  the  utmost  the  contideuce  and  re- 
spect of  his  fellows.  He  is  never  afraid  to  express  an  opinion 
when  one  is  needed,  which  is  a  quality  always  to  be  admired. 


80 


DK.    S.    J.    WKI.SII. 


Dr.  S.  .1.  Wel.-li  !i;i<  not  imly  the  oldi-st  ili'u^'  ^{in\-  in  Monroe, 
but  his  is  tlie  lirst  one  ever  estaldislied  in  Union  county.  Dr. 
Welsh  became  a  ]):irtner  in  tlie  business  in  ISS'?;  some  time 
thereafter  he  boujrht  out  tlie  interests  o!  his  partners  and  took 
his  brother.  W.  I'..  Welsh,  in  as  a  ])artner.  Fifteen  years  ago 
Dr.  Welsh  hecaiiie  sole  o\\iiei-  of  the  business  and  has  since 
conducted  it  with  much  siuc-ess.  \U\  Welsh  is  a  son  of  the  late 
.lohn  iJ.  Wel>li.  ill  his  day  one  of  the  best  known  men  of  Lancas- 
ter county,  lie  is  a  graduate  of  tlie  North  Carolina  College, 
and  recei\e(l  his  medical  education  at  the  I'niversity  of  New 
York,  where  he  graduated  in  1881.  He  came  to  Monroe  iu  the 
same  year  and  practiced  a  year  in  copartnership  with  the  late  Di". 
1.  11.  Uhiir.  11(  llieii  l)t'gan  hi^  long  career  as  a  druggist.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  public  spirited  citizens  of  the  town,  and  has 
taken  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  work  of  public  education,  and 
was  a  leading  spirit  in  the  move  for  good  schools  in  Monroe. 
He  is  now  chairman  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Graded 
School  ami  chief  of  the  fire  department.  He  is  a  ^lason.  a  K. 
of  P.,  a  Hoptasoph,  and  a  member  of  the  Koyal  Arcanum.  IK- 
has  been  a  Grand  Lodge  ottit-ei-.  and  sevei-al  times  representative 
to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Pythiaus. 

THE  :M0X1{0E  I'lHXITL'RE  CO. 

The  Monroe  Furniture  Company  was  established  in  ^larch, 
1901.  Its  business  has  since  been  growing,  and  is  very  satis- 
factory to  the  proprietors.  The  com])any  carries  a  full  line  of 
furniture,  and  coffins  and  caskets.  They  do  a  large  cash  and 
instalment  business.  ^Ir.  H.  E.  Copple  is  manager.  He  is 
a  native  of  Davidson  county.  He  graduated  at  Wake  Forest 
College  in  1887,  and  came  to  this  county  to  teach  at  Rock  Rest. 
He  spent  ten  years  in  high  school  work  in  the  county  and  came 
to  ]\[onroe  five  years  ago,  Imying  jiioperty  and  establishing  a 
permanent  home.  He  was  for  many  years  moderator  of  the 
Union  Baptist  Association,  and  is  a  prominent  Heptasoph.  As 
manager  of  the  ^fonroe  Fui-niture  ('(unpany  lie  is  making  a 
fine  succc«*i. 


SI 


"\V.    H.   BELK   AXD   BROTHER. 


Andrew  Jackson  was  not  the  only  man  born  in  the  WaxJiaw 
settlement  who  achieved  great  success  in  life.  In  war  and  pol- 
itics Jackson  was  a  decided  success,  but  in  the  great  world  of 
business  Belk  Brothers,  born  in  the  Waxhaw  settlement,  have 
been  equally  as  successful.  W.  H.  Belk  was  born  June  2nd, 
1862,  and  J.  il.  Belk  was  born  on  July  12th,lS6-i,  just  across 
the  line  in  South  Carolina.     They  came  to  Monroe  when  boys 


BELK    BROTHERS     STORE. 


and  W.  H.  Belk  clerked  several  years  for  B.  D.  Heath  &  Com- 
pany. In  1888  he  purchased  a  small  stock  of  goods  and  opened 
a  racket  store  in  the  building  now  occupied  by  Belk  Brothers  in 
Monroe,  a  cut  of  which  appears  in  this  article.  Mr.  Belk  had 
plenty  of  experience,  but  little  money.  He  had  friends  and  he 
made  more.     His  business  grew  rapidly,  and  in  1889  he  estab- 


82 


lished  a  racket  store  in  ClK-stcr,  South  Carolina,    in  partnership 
with  A.  W.  Kluttz.     In  18i)0  Dr.  J.  M.  Bclk  bought  an  inter- 
est in  the  store  at  Monroe  and  moved  liere  the  same  year.     Ppj- 
vious  to  this  he  had  been  practicing  liis  profession  at  ^lorven, 
N.  C,  and  was  a  successful  physician.     He,  too,  possessed  very 
limited  means,  hut  both  the  Belk  boys  had  what  was  rather  to 
be  chosen  than  great  riches.     They  had  good  names  and  their 
credit  was  good.     In  1891  they  opened  a  store  at  Union,  S.  C. 
with  li.  P.  Harry,  under  the  firm  name  of  Harry  &  Belk.     in 
ISUo  they  went  into  Charlotte  with  a  department  store,  occupying 
a  building  with  four  large  rooms.     Their  success  was  immediau; 
in  that  thriving  city  and  they  continued  to  branch  out.     In 
1899  they  opened  up  a  department  store  in  the  hustling  city  of 
Greensboro,  as  Harry-Belk   Brothers.     During  the   same  year 
they  established  another  store,  at  Gastonia,  as  Kindly  Belk  Bror-. 
Company,  Mr.  A\'.   E.   Kindly  in  charge.     At  all  points  theii 
affairs  prospered  and  during  this  year  (1902)  they  started  up 
another  large  store  at  Salisbury  as  Belk-Harry  Company,  and 
another  store  at  "Waxhaw,  incorporated  as  K.  J.  Belk  Company, 
Mr.  R.  J.  Belk  in  charge.     Belk  Brothers  are  also  partners  in 
the  large  grocery  business  of  J.  R.  Simpson  &  Company,  on 
La  Fayette  street,  Monroe.     Besides  the  various  stores  named 
above,  they  are  stockholders  in  the  Monroe  Hardware  Company, 
The  Monroe  Telephone  Company,  The  W.  J.  Rudge  Company's 
book  store,  the  IMonroe  Roller  ^lill.  The  Piedmont  Fire  Insu- 
rance Company  (W.  H.  Belk  being  a  director),  The  Piedmont 
Clothing  Company   (W.  H.  Belk.  president),  and  Cole  Cotton 
Planter  Manufactor}^,  the  last  three  at  Charlotte;  The  Union 
Cotton  Mill  and  the  Union  Hosiery  :Mills,  at  Union,  S.  C. ;  The 
Cliifside  Cotton  Mill,  and  also  stock  in  a  large  Xew  York  hat 
house.     They  buy  hats,  hosiery,  clothing,  etc.,  from  the  mills 
and  houses  that  they  are  interested  in  and  thereby  get  them 
cheaper,  as  the  profits  of  the  middle  men  are  eliminated.     They 
own  their  own  store  buildings  in   ^lonroe,  the  beautiful   new 
brick   building  occupied  by  the   book  store  and  telephone  ex- 
change, and  other  valuable  real  estate  in  this  city.     Mr.  W.  H. 
Belk  owTis  individually  an  elegant  orange  grove  in  Florida,  and 
some  fine  farm  lands  near  Waxhaw. 


s: 


Dr.  J.  ]\I.  Bc'lk  will  soon  have  completed  the  most  elegant  and 
costly  residence  in  Monroe. 

The  success  of  these  two  l)rothers  is  without  a  precedent. 
From  an  humble  beginning  their  business  has  grown  as  if  by 
magic.  They  are  born  merchants.  Affable,  obliging,  unselfish, 
public  spirited,  fair  and  honest,  they  make  and  hold  friends 
^^  ithout  an  effort.  They  are  consistent  members  of  the  church 
and  enjoy  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  wlio  know  them. 


II.  M.  BROO-M. 


H.  M.  Broom,  dealer  in  staple  and  fancy  groceries,  began 
merchandising  in  Monroe  in  ]\Iay.  1883,  where  the  express  office 
now  is.  In  1890  he  moved  to  his  present  large  store  in  the 
Houston  block  and  took  into  partnership  Avith  him  Moses  Cone, 
of  Baltimore.  Mv.  Cone  continued  his  connection  with  the 
business  until  he  married,  when  he  presented  to  Mrs.  Cone  his 
interest  in  the  store  as  a  bridal  present.  Mrs.  Cone  remained 
a  partner  for  about  a  year  and  then  sold  out  to  Mr.  Broom.  He 
has  been  sole  owner  ever  since.  Mr.  Broom  started  out  with  a 
very  limited  capital,  but  by  industry,  close  attention  to  business, 
and  by  quick  sales  and  small  profits,  he  has  built  up  a  big  trade 
and  accumulated  considerable  property.  Besides  his  beautiful 
residence  on  Jefferson  street,  he  owns  several  nice  houses  and 
lots  in  Monroe  and  in  North  Monroe.  Henry  Broom,  as  his 
friends  familiarly  call  him,  firmly  believes  in  the  maxim  that 
"honesty  is  the  best  policy."  If  you  have  any  dealings  with 
him  he  will  surely  treat  you  right,  as  his  legion  of  friends  and 
patrons  will  testify. 


THE  com:\iercial  hotel. 


The  Commercial  is  a  new  house  of  twenty-three  rooms,  all  of 
which   are  newlv   furnished.     Mr.    N".    G.   Eussell   is   the   pro- 


84 


prictor,  and  under  lii?  nianafroniont  tlio  liouso  lias  been  very  suc- 
cessful, hoth  as  rcixnrds  rci^ular  hoarders  and  transient  busi- 
ness.    The  hou>e  is  i-entrally  l(tcat<'d.  one  Idock  from  llie  depot. 


TIJE  CO.MMi:i;CIAL   HOTEL. 


near  the  business  portion  of  tlie  town  and  within  easy  reach  of 
the  artesian  well.  The  Commercial  offers  visitors  a  weekly 
rate  of  $6,  with  special  monthly  rates. 


TIIK    W.    .J.    RUnC.K    COMPANY. 


The  aceompanyinoj  picture  shows  the  pretty  interior  of  the 
book,  stationery,  fancy  goods  and  jewelry  store  of  the  W.  J. 
Rudge  Company,  and  a  visit  to  this  store  will  verify  the  impres- 
sion made  by  the  picture  that  this  is  one  of  the  prettiest  stores 
of  its  kind  to  be  found  in  Xorth  Carolina.     Not  only  is  it  pretty. 


85 


but  it  is  likewise  commodious,  having  a  floor  space  of  31x90 
feet.  That  handsome  building  was  recently  erected  by  Belk  Bros, 
and  was  constructed  especially  for  this  finn.  The  interior  is 
finely  finished,  which,  with  the  many  large  floor  show  cases, 
and  other  up-to-date  furnishings,  accounts  for  the  fine  effect 
upon  a  visitor  as  he  enters  the  door.     The  company  is  incorpo- 


INTERIOR  OF  THE  W.  J.  RUDGE  COMPANY  S  STORE. 


rated  and  has  the  following  officers:  E.  A.  Morrow,  presi- 
dent ;  Dr.  J.  ]\I.  Belk,  vice-president ;  W.  J.  Eudge,  secretary 
and  treasurer  and  general  manager.  Papers  of  incorporation 
were  granted  in  October,  1900,  and  the  company  has  since  been 
doing  a  thriving  business.  Mr.  Rudge,  the  manager,  is  assisted 
by  his  sister,  j\Iiss  Ivate  Eudge,  both  of  whom  are  exceedingly 
popular.     Mr.   Eudge  is  yet  a  very  young  man,  and  a  brig.it 


8G 


futuie  Ik's  l)t'f<)iv  liini.  The  ((tiiiiiaiiy  has  a  !ar<:c  trade  in  si-li  ;,il 
books,  [)ooks  of  a  gom-ral  iiatiin.',  iiia<i:azin(.'s,  jcwi'lrv  and  fancv 
goods. 


lllE    -MuMiUi;    JIAUUWAUE    CO-MI'ANY. 


The  Monroe  Hardware  Company  began  business  in  February, 
19U1.  It  was  incorporated  witli  the  following  otticers:  D.  E. 
Allen,  of  Charlotte,  president;  Dr.  J.  M.  Belk,  vice-president; 
M.  C.  Sims,  Charlotte,  secretary;  1\.  Kedfearu,  treasurer  and 
general  manager.  The  business  is  both  wholesale  and  retail. 
It  occupies  the  large  new  store  of  Shute  Bros.,  pictured  else- 
where, and  is  rapidly 
growing.  The  lioor  s[)ace 
occupied  is  Hi.'-iOO  square 
feet,  in  a  building  con- 
structed especially  for  the 
purpose.  The  business 
and  financial  ability  be- 
hind this  comjiany  guar- 
antee that  it  will  be  one 
of  the  biggest  concerns  of 
its  kind  in  this  section. 
Mr.  liandoliih  Redfearn, 
the  manager,  is  one  of 
Monroe's  best  citizens, 
lie  studied  at  Wake  For- 
est College  and  came  to 
Monroe  in  1883.  He  is 
of  good  business  judgment 
and  fine  integrity.  Within  recent  years  he  has  put  much 
money  in  real  estate,  having  constructed  more  than  fifteen 
houses  at  a  cost  of  from  $2,500  down,  for  rent  in  the  town.  ^Mr. 
Redfearn  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  cn- 
jo3's  the  confidence  of  all. 


Mil.  RAXDci.i'ii  i;i:r)Fi:Ai;x 


THE  HEATH -:\10KR0W   COMPAXY. 

The  Heath-Morrow  Compan}-,  at  this  place,  is  a  kindred  cor- 
poration, owned  by  the  same  people  who  also  have  stores  at  Al- 
bemarle and  AA^axhaw,  and  at  Pickens.  S.  C.  The  company  in 
its  present  shape  Avas  incorporated  tinder  the  laAvs  of  Xorth  Car- 
olina in  1900.  Its  president  is  ^Mr.  A.  W.  Heath;  vice-president, 
0.  P.  Heath;  general  manager,  E.  A.  Morrow.  The  beginning 
of  this  business  runs  back  perhaps  twenty-five  or  thirty  years 
and  was  made  by  B.  D.  Heath,  now  of  Charlotte.  In  the  year 
1890  B.  D.  Heath,  whose  firm  was  one  of  the  old  landmarks, 
sold  out  to  Heath,  MorroM'  &  Co.,  the  firm  being  composed  of 
B.  D.  and  A.  AY.  Heath  and  R.  A.  and  J.  M.  Morrow.  In 
1893  B.  D.  Heath  sold  out  entirely.  In  1896  Mr.  0.  P.  Heath 
bought  an  interest  in  the  business,  and  also  in  that  of  Morrow, 
Heath  &  Company. 

Mr.  E.  A.  Morrow,  the  general  manager,  came  to  this  county 
in  1888  and  began  business  with  his  brother  at  "Waxhaw.  He 
came  from  Charlotte,  resigning  the  position  there  as  head  of 
the  retail  credit  department  of  Wittkowsky  &  Baruch.  He  is 
a  man  of  much  business  enterprise,  is  an  exceedingly  public- 
spirited  man,  and  takes  great  interest  in  all  public  questions  as 
well  as  in  business.. 

The  company  is  wholly  a  wholesale  concern,  having  discon- 
tinued all  retail  business  January  1st.  They  have  two  travel- 
ing salesmen,  and  cover  large  portions  of  ^STorth  and  South 
Carolina.  Their  trade  is  extending  rapidly  and  they  will  no 
doubt  be  one  of  the  largest  wholesale  concerns  in  the  State. 
They  have  large  warehouses  at  Xorfolk,  and  ship  goods  direct 
from  that  port,  hence  are  on  terms  of  equality  with  the  mer- 
chants of  that  city  and  Richmond.  They  have  two  warehouses 
in  Monroe,  one  for  meats  and  lards  and  one  for  grain  and  kin- 
dred articles.  Possessed  of  ample  capital,  a  good  territory  to 
develop,  and  their  shipping  facilities,  it  is  no  wonder  that  their 
business  is  rapidly  increasing. 


88 


Tin;  i'i:oi'Li:  s  bank  or  mon'koe. 

The  People's  Bank  of  Monroe  l)e(ran  its  long  and  successful 
career  in  18T4,  with  the  late  H.  M.  Houston  as  president,  and 
Mr.  E.  A.  Armfield  cashier.  Two  years  hiiL-r  Mr.  Armfield  re- 
signed, and  the  late  Col.  W.  H.  Fitzgerald  was  elected  cashier 
and  served  with  great  fidelity  till  April.  1896.  Mr.  F.  H. 
Wolfe,  who  was  bookkeeper,  was  succeeded  in  1885  by  Mr.  W. 
C.  WoUV',  who  since  that  year  has  been  steadily  with  the  bank. 
This  gentleman  was  elected  cashier  in  1896  when  ill 
health  compelled  Col.  Fitzgerald  to  retire.  When  ad- 
vancing age  and  infirmities  compelled  Mr.  Houston  to 
terminate  his  long  and  useful  connection  with  the  bank 
as  its  president,  ]\lr.  0.  P.  Heath,  a  well-known  busi- 
ness man  and  financier,  was  elected  president.  The 
present  officers  and  directors  are:  ().  P.  Heath,  J.  II. 
English,  F.  B.  Ashcraft,  J.  H.  Lee,  A.  11.  Croweil, 
W.  H.  Phifer,  E.  W.  Morrow,  directors;  0.  P.  Heath, 
president;  W.  C.  Wolfe,  cashier;  W.  H.  Phifer,  teller; 
Howard    Wolfe,    clerk. 

The  bank  does  a  safe  business,  but  is  ready  always  to  accom- 
modate persons  entitled  to  credit.  It  enjoys  to  the  highest  de- 
gree the  confidence  of  the  public,  as  shown  by  the  large  deposits. 
The  deposits  subject  to  check  average  $100,000,  and  time  de- 
posits $65,000.  The  capital  stock  is  $41,000.  with  a  surplus  and 
undivided  profits  amounting  to  $18,000. 


D.  A.   HOUSTOX  AXD  BROTHER. 


D.  A.  Houston,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  D.  A.  Houston 
&-  Brother,  was  born  Xovember  19,  1871,  and  was  educated  at 
Trinity  College,  Xorth  Carolina.  After  graduating  with  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  in  June,  1891,  he  was  elected  assistant  instruc- 


»9 


tor  and   Treasurer  of  the 


D.  A.  HOUSTON. 

Association.  H  e    h  a  s 

served  one  term  as  alder- 
man of  the  city.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1900,  he  admitted 
into  partnership  with  him 
his  brother,  Clarence  E. 
Houston.  The  junior 
member  is  also  a  native  of 
this  city,  and  was  born 
November  22,  1874.  He 
was  educated  at  Trinity 
College,  North  Carolina, 
and  afterwards  entered 
the  ^laryland  College  of 
Pharmacy  in  July,  1900. 


College,  and  served  for  two  years. 
He  then  went  to  Mt.  Airy, 
N".  C,  and  engaged  in  the 
<'rug  business.  He  re- 
mained there  three  and 
one-half  years.  In  1895 
I'L'  was  granted  license  to 
practice  pharmacy  by  the 
State  Board.  In  1897  he 
irturned  to  Monroe,  his 
"native  heath,"'  and  open- 
ed up  a  large  and  select 
line  of  drugs  in  the  Hous- 
ton block.  Since  his  re- 
turn to  ]Moiiroe  he  has 
l)een  a  factor  in  the  prog- 
ress of  the  city.  He  has 
served  as  director  in  the 
Monroe  Oil  &  Fertilizer 
( 'ompany.  the  Henderson 
IJoller  :\Iill,  and  the  Per- 
petual   Buildipg    &    Loan 


CLAKEXCK    E.     HOUSTON. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  State  Phar- 


90 


iDacciitical  A>s(i(iati()ii,  and  is  an  ii|i-tn-(late  Pharmacist.  He  is 
an  iiniiiarrieil  man  of  j)l('a>in<r  aildrcss,  and  add.-  inm-h  to  the 
})o])uUir  I'avor  oi"  Houston's  J)ru<,'  Store. 

D.  A.  Houston  (i^  Brother  deal  m  evervtliing  usually  kept  in 
a  first-class  drug  store,  and  jiay  csitccial  attention  to  filling  pre- 
scriptions day  or  night.  Tlu'se  gentlemen  are  grandsons  of 
the  late  H.  ^l.  Houston  and  are  devisees  of  very  valuable  ])rop- 
ertv  interests  under  his  will.  1).  .\.  Houston  being  one  of  the 
executors.  Hi  every  jjarticular  this  firm  is  a  strong  one.  Their 
large  and  growing  trade  is  not  tlie  result  of  chance,  but  of  their 
method-  of  doiii',^  hpsincss.     Tlicy  study  their  trailc  and  strive 

to  please  their  ])atrons.  Mr. 
Carl  Blakeney  is  connected 
with  this  popular  store, 
and  his  urbane  and  nuig- 
netii'  manners  so  impress 
customers  that  they  ahva\s 
come  again  when  wanting 
anvthiuff  in  the  drug  line. 


J.  R.  EXGLISir  AND  CO. 

The     old     and     reliable 
lirm    of    J.  E.  English    S:. 
Co.,   on   South    Lafayette 
street,  is  composed  of  John 
F.  1).  AsiiruAi-T.  K.  English  and  F.  B.  Ash- 

craft.  They  began  business  at  tlieir  ])resent  stand  in  1884. 
Both  of  them,  however,  had  had  considerable  experience  in  sell- 
ing goods  before  that.  The  active  management  of  the  business 
is  in  the  hands  of  ^Ir.  Ashcraft.  ^fr.  English  giving  his  personal 
attention  to  his  drug  store.  The  large  two-story  brick  building 
occupied  by  J.  \l.  English  &  Co.  belongs  to  the  firm  and  is  filled 
with  a  complete  stock  of  general  merchandise.  They  carry  dry 
goods,  shoes,  hats,  heavy  groceries  and  farm  supplies  generally. 
This  firm  is  one  of  the  strongest  in  ilonroe,  both  members  of  it 
being  men  of  lar^e  means.     Thev  are  thorougldy  identified  with 


91 


the  growth  and  hest  interests  of  Monroe  and  at  all  times  are 
willing  to  give  of  their  means  and  influence  to  promote  the  city's 
welfare.  Mr.  Ashcraft  is  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Education 
of  the  county  and  is  a  great  church  worker.  His  influence  is 
always  on  the  side  of  right  and  in  his  business  dealings,  as  in  all 
his  conduct,  he  is  a  most  exemplary  gentleman. 


THE    MOXROE    COTTON    illLL. 

The  Monroe  Cotton  Mill  was  built  on  the  co-operative  plan. 
On  account  of  inadequate  capital  the  mill  was  not  prosperous 
until  it  was  bought  by  the  present  owners  in  August,  1895.  The 
product  is  20 — 1  and  22 — 1  hosiery  on  cones;  24 — 2  and  26 — 2 
skeins  and  30 — 2  chain  all  ball  warps.  It  is  now  owned  solely 
by  home  people.  0.  P.  Heath  is  president,  J.  E.  English  vice- 
president,  and  W.  C.  Heath  secretary  and  treasurer  and  manager. 
When  the  mill  was  bought  by  the  present  owners  there  were  4,10') 
spindles ;  now  there  are  more  than  double  that  number,  consum- 
ing annually  3,500  bales  of  cotton.  The  Messrs.  Heath,  who  o^\-n 
a  controlling  amount  of  stock  in  this  mill,  are  interested  in  sev- 
eral other  mills.  Since  January,  1897,  Capt.  W.  C.  Heath  has 
been  in  active  management  of  the  mill,  and  its  success  is  in 
a  great  measure  due  to  his  fine  executive  ability  and  splendid 
business  methods.  The  management  of  help  is  a  very  important 
part  of  a  mill  manager's  business.  In  this  Capt.  Heath  has  been 
very  successful,  so  that  today  he  has  200  operatives  who  are  con- 
tented, because  they  have  implicit  confidence  in  their  employer. 
He  knows  every  one  of  the  operatives  by  name,  and  if  one  has  a 
grievance  he  knows  that  he  can  get  a  patient  hearing  by  Capt. 
Heath  personally.  B}^  fair  treatment  and  a  square  administra- 
tion of  justice,  no  matter  Avho  was  the  loser  thereby,  all  labor 
troubles  have  been  avoided.  The  employees  come  from  the  ad- 
jacent country  and  are  people  of  native  common  sense  and  have 
a  personal  regard  for  the  manager  of  the  mill,  and  one  of  Capt. 
Heath's  firmest  rules  is  that  children  should  not  be  mistreated. 
In  this  way  he  always  secures  the  best  of  help.  Capt.  Heath 
is  a  man  of  business,  both  by  education  and  by  instinct.  Edu- 
cated at  the  Citadel,  the  famous  school  at  Charleston,  he  won 


92 


much  reputation  as  an  ollicer  of  the  State  guard,  in  u  liich  he  ruse 
to  the  rank  of  major.  While  he  was  captain  of  the  Monroe 
company  that  organization  was  the  best  drilled  one  in  the  State. 
He  is  a  recognized  leader  among  the  mill  men  of  the  State,  ami 
his  reputation  extends  beyond  the  State  in  mill  circles.  He  now 
holds  the  responsible  position  of  chairman  of  the  board  of  gov- 
ernors of  the  Southern  Cotton  Spinnt-rs"  Association. 


THE   llEXnERSON'  ROLLER   :MTLLS. 


The  Henderson  Poller  ]\Iill  began  work  in  July,   11)01,  the 
building  having  been  erected  and  equipped  at  a  cost  of  $10,000. 


THE    llENDLRSOX    ROLLER    .MILL 


Tho  ''•apacity  of  the  mill  is  100  barrels  of  flour.  2.50  Ijushels  o't 
meal  and  250  bushels  of  corn  per  day.  The  mills  do  a  large 
exchange  and  merchant  work.  It  will  have  a  fine  effect  on  locai 
grain  growing.     M-r.  J.  E.  Henderson,  a  mill  man  of  long  expe- 


93 


rience,  is  the  manager  and  largest  holder  of  stock;  Mr.  J.  11. 
English  is  president  and  j\Ir.  T.  C.  Lee  secretary  and  treasurer. 


CROW   BROTHERS. 


The  well-known  firm  of  Crow  Brothers  is  composed  of  J.  J. 

and  E.  D.  Crow.  They 
began  business  at  their 
present  stand  in  1891  in 
co-partnership  with  Mr.  J . 
M.  Fairley.  In  1893  Mr. 
Fairley  sold  his  interest  to 
Crow  Brothers,  whose  suc- 
cess has  been  phenomenal. 
They  buy  cotton,  handle 
commercial  fertilizers  and 
deal  in  farm  supplies  on  a 
large  scale.  They  do  an 
immense     time      business. 


JXO.  J.  CROW 


Both  members  of  the  firm 
are  young  men  of  energy 
and  excellent  business  ca- 
pacity. Besides  their  large 
mercantile  trade,  they  are 
the  principal  stockholders 
in  the  Monroe  Warehouse 
Company  and  other  cor- 
porations and  are  wide- 
awake, public-spirited  citi- 
zens, who  join  in  every  en- 
terprise looking  to  the  bet- 
terment and  upbuilding  of 
their  city.  Fair  dealing 
and  liberality  have  se- 
cured for  these  gentlemen 
troops  of  friends. 


R.  U.  CROW, 


94 


i;.  V.  iiorsTox,  i:sq, 

.Mr.  I{.  \'.  Ili>u-ti)ii  ('ii.ji)vs  the  distiiictiim  of  liciii^^^  the  nldi'st 
original  citizen  of  Munrdc.  IIo  is  5G  years  uf  age.  ami  lut  <tn<' 
lias  li\c(l  in   Mr.nrot'  so  long  as  lie.     Th()U<rh  very  yoiini:  at  lln- 

time,  lie  voluntcercil  i:i 
C.mipany  C,  10th  X.  C. 
.\rtillery,  under  ("apt.  (,'. 
M.  T.  :\[e("aiiley.  II.'  has 
r\('r  l)een  an  enthusiastic 
Con  federate.  He  has  siih- 
s('ril)ed  $50  to  the  pro- 
p;)sed  Confederate  monu- 
ment for  the  county,  and 
has  in  other  ways  shown 
his  love  for  the  cause. 
\fter  the  war  he  engaged 
Ml  merchandising  under 
I  he  firm  name  of  Houston 
\-  Co.  He  has  since  heen 
engaged  in  farming,  and 
is  now  one  of  the  largest 
planters  in  the  county.  He 
now  operates  more  than 
twenty  plows.  Mr.  llous- 
i;.  V.  iiuu.sL(jN.  ^Qj^^  though  enjoying  wide 

popularity,  has  never  sought  oiTice,  though  if  he  had  turned  his 
attention  to  polities  there  is  no  douht  he  would  have  achieved 
large  success  in  that  field.  He  spends  his  time  quietly  in  look- 
ing after  his  large  property  interests  and  in  directing  his  farms. 
He  has  fine  conversational  powers,  is  a  natural  wit  and  never 
fails  to  entertain  and  amuse  any  crowd  in  whicli  he  may  fall. 


J.  SIIUTE  AXD  SOXS. 


'  The  firm  of  J.  Shute  &  Sons  is  composed  of  H.  A.  Shute,  J. 
R.  Shute  and  J.  T.  Shute,  sons  of  the  late  John  Shute.  During 
the  vear  1856  Mr.  John  Shute  moved  to  Monroe  from  South  Car- 


!»,"") 


■olina  and  engaged  in  farming  on  a  limited  scale  on  the  land 
where  Shutes'  brick  yard  now  stands,  near  the  cotton  mill,  and 
at  the  Darling  Broom  place  near  the  city.  In  18G6  he  began 
merchandising  in  ]\Ionroe.  In  18T0  ]\Ir.  Shute  started  a  gin, 
rnn  by  horse  power,  where  the  passenger  depot  now  stands.  By 
the  industry  and  economy  of  himself  and  his  boys,  the  business 
soon  l)egan  to  enlarge  and  expand.     In  1875  they  added  another 


CENTRAL  HOTEL. 


gin  and  a  wool  carding  machine,  run  by  a  small  steam  engine. 
About  the  same  time  they  started  a  flouring  mill  in  connection 
with  their  gin.  In  1880  they  purchased  the  Winchester  &  Mor- 
gan gin,  on  Lafayette  street,  where  their  present  gins  are  situ- 
ated, and  added  four  more  gins  to  the  plant.  During  the  year 
189'^  they  added  a  planing  machine  and  began  to  manufacture 
doors,  blinds,  sash  and  all  kinds  of  building  material. 


96 


Their  present  lar^e  brick-making  plant  had  its  genesis  in  a 

small  jiiud  luill,  started  up 
in  1885  and  run  by  a 
liorse.  Their  present  mill 
is  run  by  a  50-horse  power 
boiler  and  engine  and  has 
a  capacity  of  30.000  Ijrick 
l»er  day. 

Tn  the  year  1896  the  fa- 
ther, Mr.  .John  Shute,  died 
and  the  business  passed 
into  the  liands  of  hi.s  three 
sons.  11.  A..  J.  1!.  and  J. 
T.  .Shute.  In  order  to 
better  manage  their  varied 
interests  and  enterprises, 
they  have  allotted  to  each 
a  particular  branch  of  the 
business.  Mr.  J.  E.  Shute 
has  control  of  the  mercan- 
tile department,  keeps  the 
.Mi;.  J.  R.  SHUTE.  books    and    settles     with 

tlioir  numerous  employes. 
^Ir.  .1.  T.  Shute  superin- 
tends the  ginning,  planing 
and  brick-making  plants. 
'Mr.  H.  A.  Shute  looks  af- 
ter their  farjning,  stock- 
raising,  etc. 

In  addition  to  the  fore- 
going, this  firm  owns  in 
Monroe  about  sixty  dwell- 
ing houses,  shops  and 
stores,  which  they  rent  to 
otherpeople  besides  a  large 
brick  ware  house  for  stor- 
ing cotton  and  the  splen- 
did livery  .stable  building 
now  occupied  by  Shannon 
&  C\     Thev  also  own  the  J.  t.  shute. 


97 


Central  Hotel,  tlie  Opera  House  and  the  elegant  new  structure 
at  present  occupied  hy  the  ]\ronroe  Hardware  Co.,  photographs 
of  wliicli  are  herein  printed.     Messrs.  J.  Shute  &  Sons  pay  more 

taxes  than  any  other  per- 
son, finn  or  corporation  in 
Union  county.  Every  dol- 
lar they  own  is  an  honest 
dollar  and  earned  by  their 
own  labor.  What  they  buy 
they  pay  cash  for  and  what 
they  own  is  all  paid  for. 

These  gentlemen  have 
done  much  for  jMonroe. 
For  years  they  have  fur- 
nished employment  to  a 
very  large  number  of  la- 
borers and  they  have  given 
to  JMonroe  many  of  its 
most  substantial  and  beau- 
tiful buildings.  In  their 
business  transactions  they 
are  "as  straight  as  a  shin- 
gle,"  dealing    jnstly   and 


H.  A.  SHUTE. 


honestly  ^ith  every  one  and  expecting  the  same  sort  of  treat- 
ment. They  are  regarded  as  among  the  city's  finest  business 
men  and  richly  deserve  the  success  which  they  have  achieved. 


THE  PERPETUAL  BUILDING  AND  LOAN  ASSOCIATION. 

In  the  s])ring  of  1885  Monroe  was  favored  with  a  visit  from 
Saml  Wittkowsky,  of  Charlotte,  a  well-known  building  and  loan 
association  man.  A  public  meeting  was  held  and  Mr.  Wittkowsky 
made  a  speech  on  homes  and  home  building,  bringing  to  the 
attention  of  the  large  audience  present  the  advantages  of  a  build- 
ing and  loan  association  organized  on  the  perpetual  system,  that 
is,  a  system  that  allows  new  stock  to  be  sold  at  stated  periods. 
As  a  result  of  this  meeting  the  Perpetual  Building  &  Loan  Asso- 


98 


ciation  of  ^Moiiroo  was  organizi-il.  'I'lio  late  11.  !M.  Uniiston  was- 
elecied  president  and  served  faitlifuUy  for  several  yi-ars  until 
the  election  of  .Mr.  J.  K.  English,  one  of  our  best  business  men. 
'J\  I).  W'iiiehester.  Esq.,  was  the  first  secretarv  and  treasurer  and 
served  for  three  years,  being  succeeded  by  ^Ir.  W.  C.  Wolfe,  who 
yet  fills  tile  jiositiitn  with  great  satisfaction.  Since  the  organi- 
zation three  liundi-ed  loiiiis  liave  been  made  to  those  desirous  of 


:\[0XROK  opi:i;a  iiousi:.  shute  and  soxs  owners  and  maxagei^s. 

buying  or  building  homes,  and  at  this  time  the  Association  has 
loaned  out  the  sum  of  $37.1fio.OO.  which  has  been  expended  in 
1)11  ving.  building  and  improving  the  homes  of  the  stockholders. 
The  great  usefulness  of  the  Association  cannot  he  put  too 
strongly.  The  stockholder  who  borrows  money  to  build  pays 
six  per  cent  on  his  loan  and  gets  four  and  three-quarter  per  cent 
on  his  investment,  this  1)eing  the  amount  of  jirofit  made  for  him 


99 


hy  the  Association,  there  being  praetieallv  no  expense  of  opera- 
tion except  taxes.  The  present  officers  are  J.  E.  English,  presi- 
dent; W.  C.  Wolfe,  secretary  and  treasurer;  Adams  &  Jerome, 
attorneys;  J.  E.  English,  J.  H.  Lee,  C.  \V.  Bruner,  F.  B.  Ash- 
craft,,  D.  A.  Houston,  W.  C.  Wolfe,  E.  A.  Morrow,  directors. 
Tiie  Association  has  never  lost  a  dollar  l)y  l)ad  investment,  nor 
closed  but  two  or  three  mortgao-o?. 


THE  :\[cnAi::  mercaxtile  compaxy. 

For  a  large  number  of  years  Colonel  A.  H.  Crowell  and  son, 
A.  M.  Crowell,  ran  a  large  and  successful  mercantile  business 
in  ]\Ionroe.  lu  1894  they  retired,  disj^osing  of  their  stock  of 
goods  to  J.  D.  McEae  and  T.  C.  Collins.  These  gentlemen 
kept  up  the  high  reputation  of  their  predecessors.  In  Septem- 
l)er.  1901,  Messrs.  McEae  &  Collins  dissolved.  Mr.  McEae  con- 
tinuing until  January,  1902,  when  the  "McEae  Mercantile 
Company"  was  organized  with  a  paid-up  capital  of  $12,000, 
with  privilege  of  increasing  to  $35,000.  W.  C.  Heath  is  pres- 
ident, \Y.  S.  Lee  is  vice-president  and  J.  D.  McEae  secretary, 
treasurer  and  general  manager.  This  company  carries  a  large 
and  varied  stock  of  general  merchandise,  handles  fertilizers 
and  farmers'  supplies.  All  of  the  officers  of  the  corporation 
are  most  excellent  men  and  it  is  pleasant  to  trade  with  them. 
Their  fair  dealing  is  sho^ni  by  their  large  patronage. 


THE    EXGLISH    DRUG    COMPAXY. 

Tn  1874,  Mr.  J.  E.  English,  then  a  young  man  just  21  years 
old,  came  from  the  Quaker  settlement  of  Guilford  and  pitched 
his  tent  in  Monroe.  Today  no  man  in  the  county  stands  ahead 
of  him  in  the  public's  confidence  in  his  integrity  of  character, 
thrift  and  business  enterprise.  Since  the  beginning,  with 
slight  intermissions,  he  has  continued  in  the  drug  business, 
beginning  as  clerk  for  Blair,  Walsh  &  Flow,  druggists.  With 
H.  C.  Ashcrafl  he  soon  bought  out  the  old  firm,  and  as  English 


100 


Si  Aslicral'i   iii(»\c'(l  to  his  pre'; 
bou«jlit    liis    ]>artTK'r*s    iiite'ivst. 


J.     K.    KXGLlSJi. 

ouglilv   idc'utilk'd    with   all 
the    various    interests    of 
the  town. 

Mr.  Blair  has  been 
been  in  the  drug  business 
since  boyhood.  He  grad- 
uated at  the  ^Marvhind 
College  of  Pharmacy  in 
1888,  and  iininediately 
began  business  in  ^Ion- 
roc 

^Ir.  Frank  l"]nglisb., 
another  pharniaeist  of 
the  company,  graduated  at 
the  Maryland  College  of 
Pharmacy  in  the  class  o[ 
19()(). 


eiit  stand  in  1S83.  In  ISSO  he 
In  1888  he,  with  Mr.  S.  «). 
Blair,  bought  out  I.  II. 
Blair  tS:  Co..  and  a  year 
later  the  two  stocks  were 
uniteil,  Mr.  English  and 
Mr.  S.  ().  Blair  formin'C 
the  jiresent  English  Drug 
Company.  Tiic  linn  ha^ 
a  branch  store  in  Kaleigb 
— C.  B.  Crowell  &  Co.— 
and  has  at  different  times 
establislied  branch  stores 
at  otlu'r  ])oints,  and  af- 
tei'wards  disposing  of 
Ihem.  TJie  firm  enjoys  n 
large  retail,  jobbing  and 
country  store  supply 
trade.  Beside  this  busi- 
ness, ^fr.  En<rlisb  is  thor- 


«.  (J.  ni.Aiii. 


101 


TiTE  i[eatit-i;ee  ilal;i)Wai;e  cu.mpaxy. 

This  is  not  only  the  largest  single  mercantile  establishment 
in  Union  county,  but  one  of  the  largest  of  its  kind  in  the  State. 
The  present  business  was  begun  in  1887  as  the  Heath  Hardware 
Company,  this  company  buying  the  small  hardware  stock  of  J. 
]\[.  Stewart,  situated  on  Lafayette  street  in  the  frame  building 
now  occupied  by  J.  E.  Simpson  &  Co.     Here  the  business  was 


THE  IIEATT-r-LEE  IIA.EDWARE   COMPANY. 

carried  on  till  1801  when  the  present  large  building  on  Franklin 
street  was  erected.  The  business  was  managed  and  greatly  ex- 
tended by  Capt.  ^V.  C.  Heath  imtil  January,  1896,  when  lie 
gave  up  the  management  to  take  charge  of  the  Monroe  Cotton 
Mill.  Mr.  B.  1).  Heath  retired  and  Messrs.  W.  S.  Lee  and  C. 
F.  Lowe  at  that  time  bought  interests  in  the  business  and  Mr.^^^ 
S.  Lee  became  manager.  His  success  has  been  as  marked  as  was 
that  of  Capt.  Heath.     Tn  December,  1900,  the  firm  was  incor- 


102 


porated  as  tlic  IToath-l.tv  Ilarflwaro  Conipaiiv,  at  which  liiiif 
]\rr.  A.  W.  Hi'ath  rctiivd.  The  incorporators  were  W.  l . 
Heath,  W.  8.  I.ee,  C.  Y.  Lowe  and  J.  A.  Stewart,  ('apt.  W.  <_". 
Ploatli  is  president;  ^Ir.  W.  S.  Lee  general  manager,  and  Mr.  C. 
F.  Lowe  secretary  and  licasurer.  The  paid  up  capital  is  $00,- 
000.  The  company  does  an  extensive  wholesale  business,  be- 
side their  great  retail  trade.  They  travel  men  in  Xorth  and 
South  Carolina,  and  their  volume  of  business  is  ever  on  the  in- 
crease. Their  main  store  room  is  180  feet  long,  and  beside  this 
they  have  in  the  rear  a  mammoth  warehouse.  !Mr.  Lee.  with 
the  assistance  of  Mr.  Lowe,  gives  his  whole  time  to  the  manage- 
ment. He  is  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  citizens  of  thi 
to\v^^,  and  is  always  a  leader  in  any  movement  for  the  genend 
Avelfare. 


M.    CIJOWKI.L. 


A.  M.  Crowoll.  one  of  tlie  largest  ]iro]ierty  owners  and  most 
public-spirited  men  d'  Monroe,  first  saw  tlio  liglit  in  Union 
county,  X.  C  I'elirnary  'ioth,  ^Si\.  He  came  to  !\ronroe  in 
1874.  and  with  Col.  A.  Tl.  Crowell,  his  father,  began  merchan- 
dising. After  running  with  great  success  for  twenty  years  tht>y 
retired  from  business  on  account  of  the  advanced  age  of  Col. 
Crowell.  Since  1894.  :\rr.  A.  ^\.  Crowell  has  been  principally 
engaged  in  the  management  of  his  large  private  interests,  al- 
though he  has  often  been  called  to  serve  the  public  iu  different 
capacities.  He  has  been  city  alderman  two  terms,  a  justice  cf 
the  peace,  cit  ytax  collector  and  treasurer  and  trustee  of  Mon- 
roe's excellent  graded  school.  Mr.  Crowell  is  a  public  spirited 
gentleman  and  a  model  citizen,  enjoying  the  esteem  and  friend- 
ship of  all  \\ho  know  him. 


103 


[•:.   A.    ARMFIELD   AND   SONS. 


This  linn  is  composed  of  E.  A.  Armfiekl,  Davis  Armfield  and 
Rufns  Armfield.  The  senior  member  began  dealing  in  horses 
and  mules  in  1870.  Later  on  he  and  X.  S.  Ogburn  became  asso- 
ciated together,   and   continued   for  several  vears  in  the   stock 


E.  A.  ARMFIELD   AND  SONS     LIVERY   STABLES. 


business.  Mr.  Ogburn  finalh-  became  sole  owner  and  Mr.  Arm- 
field  gave  his  entire  attention  to  his  other  business.  In  1890 
he  opened  u])  again  at  the  present  stand,  corner  of  Church  and 
Jefferson  streets.  In  1897  he  took  in  Mr.  Davis  Armfield,  and 
in  1899  took  in  Mr.  Eufus  Armfield.  The  two  latter  now  have 
the  active  management  of  the  business.  They  are  both  clever 
young  men,  and  treat  the  patrons  of  the  firm  right.  By  select- 
ing stock  suitable  to  this  section  they  have  built  np  a  fine  trade 
in  Union  and  surroundins:  counties.     Their  fairness  is  shown 


104 


by  the  fact  that  neither  member  of  the  firm  lia.s  ever  liad  am" 
liti^'ation  over  a  trade  iu  stock.  Ik'sidcs  their  sales  stable,  these 
geiiticincii  own  a  large  gin,  saw  and  grist  mill  six  miles  south 
of  Monroe  and  also  run  a  large  farm.  The  amuunt  of  business 
they  do  demonstrates  that  square  dealing  is  the  surest  way  to 
success. 


■  it-    i,anf.^  .  ■   s.  ■  ".v.  .»>«-.■  V '      ■      ..j/rjc^,'^-.^.^.,    -^ 


RESIDEXCE  AND  (iUOL'XDS  OF  R.  B.   l!l:;nWlNi:.   KSQ. 


A.    LEVY, 


A.  Levy,  tlie  well-known  dry  goods  man,  is  a  Frenchman  by 
birth,  and  came  to  ]\Ionroe  in  the  spring  of  1878  and  began 
selling  drv  goods  under  the  firm  name  of  Lichtenstein  &  Lew. 
This  firm  continued  until  1897,  since  which  time  ]\Ir.  Levy 
has  boon  alone.  During  those  twenty-four  years  ]\Ir.  Levy 
has  built  up  a  reputation  for  low  prices  and  good  goods.  He 
carries  a  big  lino  of  dry  goods,  notions,  shoes,  hats,  clothing, 
etc.  Mrs.  Lew  conducts  a  first-class  millinery  in  connection 
with  her  husband's  l)usiness  and  knows  just  how  to  please  the 
ladies. 


105 


T.   J.   SHANNON  AND  COMPANY. 

This  firm  is  composed  of  T.  J.  Shannon  and  F.  M.  Welsh. 
Mr.  WoJsh  resides  in  South  Carolina  and  is  the  father-in-law 
of  Mr.  Shannon.  The  latter  first  began  selling  goods  at  Jef- 
ferson, S.  C,  but  moved  to  Monroe  in  1894.  Shannon  &  Co. 
do  a  wholesale  and  retail  mercantile  business  in  hardware,  dry 
goods,  shoes,  notions,  etc.,  and  also  deal  largely  in  wagons,  bug- 
gies and  farming  implements.  Their  principal  stores  are  in  the 
Shute  building,  at  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Hayne  streets. 
They  run  a  livery  stable  on  Franklin  street  and  a  grocery  store 
at  corner  of  Church  and  Franklin  streets.  They  also  have  a 
retail  store  at  Jefferson,  S.  C.  Mr.  Shannon,  aside  from  his 
other  enterprises,  deals  largely  in  stock  and  cattle  and  farms  con- 
siderably.    He  is  a  very  busy  man  and  a  splendid  business  man. 


SHUTE  BROS.-'  NEW  BUILDING,  OCCUPIED  BY  MONROE   HARDW.   CO. 


lOG 


CAl'T.    W.    li.    CASOX. 


Wlien  the  (i.  <'.  \-   \.  Railway  c-aiiic  from  Atlanta  to  Monroe 
it  brouijht    witli    it    a    miniher  of  youn^r   men    who   married   in 

.Monroe.  One  of  these 
yount.''  iiicii  was  Ca])- 
tain  W.  K.  C'ason,  who 
iii;in-i((l  Miss  Mattie  Aus- 
tin. C'apt.  Capon  is  a  na- 
ti\('  of  Georgia  and  has 
l»(cn  with  the  Seaboard 
a  long  time.  He  was,  for 
;i  number  of  years,  road 
master  of  the  G.  C.  .^c  X. 
lie  is  now  one  of  the  pop- 
nhir  conductors  on  the 
\cstil)ule  from  Monroe  to 
.\\ianta.  Capt.  Cason 
has  saved  his  money  and 
is  tile  owner  of  valuable 
real  estate  in  Monroe.  Ho 
also  l.'^-  a  very  fine  farn> 
in  Butord  township.  He 
is  a  man  of  splendid  ap- 
(■  AIT.  w  .  K.  CASON.  })earance,  excellent   habits 

and  is  a  model  citizen. 


Til.    1..    fLOW. 


M.  T..  Flow,  dealer  in  fancy  gioceries,  has  long  been  connected 
with  the  public  life  of  Monroe.  For  a  long  time  he  was  deputy 
clerl^^of  the  Superior  court  and  a  most  efTicient  one  he  was.  He 
has  served  many  years  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  notary  puldic, 
commissioner  of  affidavits,  etc..  and  always  does  his  bnsiness 
with  tact  and  skill.  ^Ir.  Flow  conducts  a  fancy  grocery  and 
carries  in   stock  a  larcre  assortment  of  candies,  fruits,  canned 


109 


(  1  )    liKSlDKXCK  OF   A.   M.   Ci^O^VELL. 

(2)  res]dp:xce  of  ttte  late  col.  a.  h.  chowell. 


AUSTIX   AXD  HEXDEP.SOX. 


Austin  &  Heiulerson,  dealers  in  staple  and  fancy  groceries, 
do  a  nice  business.  V.  C.  Anstin  and  F.  G.  Henderson  consti- 
tute the  firm  and  they  are  young  men  of  energy,  honesty  and 
popularity.  They  are  on  Franklin  street,  in  the  Enquirer  build- 
ing, where  bargains  in  their  line  can  be  had.  Their  goods  are 
fresh  and  cheap  and  ^Messrs.  Austin  and  Henderson  are  the 
soul  of  politeness  to  their  customers. 


no 


CLHLKi:    AM)    I.INDSKY 


0.  ('.  Curlcc  and  J.  J.  Lindsov,  jiicrcliandise  brokers  und.'" 
firm  name  of  Curlee  &  Liiidst'V,  have  tlu-ir  oHice  in  the  Fitz- 
gerald buihling,  on  Lafayette  street,  opposite  the  (iloucester 
Hotel.  They  are  wholesale  brokers  and  commission  merchants, 
dealing  in  flour,  grain,  meat,  lard,  etc.  They  represent  several 
large  mills  and  packing  houses  and  sell  goods  on  a  very  small 
]nargin.  They  are  both  men  of  ex])erience  in  their  line  and  have 
an  extensive  trade,  which  is  constantly  growing.  They  are  both 
))ul)lie  spirited  citizens  and  each  enjoys  much  jjcrsonal  p!)pu- 
laritv. 


Xdt  much  has  been  said  in  these  pages  of  an  historical  natiin-. 

The  idea  has  been  to  give  a  picture  of  jjresent  life  and  activity. 

Were  any  liistorical  sketch  atteni]»ted  it  wc.idd  deal  largely  witli 

tlie  men  of  the  town  and 
Miiiiiy.  whose  personali- 
lies  have  given  direction 
;o  the  activities  of  the  ]K'o- 
Ic.  1)1  the  history  of  the 
\  )wn  the  pioneers  would 
iHcupy  a  large  space. 
Among  them  are  names  of 
men  well  known  in  their 
I  lay.  and  some  of  them  liv- 
ing to  ripe  old  ages  have 
1  I'cn  known  to  the  young- 
t  r  generation.  All  of 
them  have  passed  awav. 
Among  these  names  are 
those  of  Joseph  McLaugh- 
lin, wlio  built  the  first 
storehouse  here ;  T.  IX 
W'i  nchester,  John  D.  Stew- 
art, C.  Austin,  M.   Austin, 


THE   LATi:   II.    M.   HOUSTON". 


John  Shute,  Capt.  C.  M.  T.  McCauley,  Maj.  D.  A.  Covington, 
i.'oh  S.  H.  Walku]i.   Henderson  Simpson,  A.   F.   Stevens,  Col. 


Ill 


W.  II.  Fitzg-erald.  Tattt'i'son  Houston,  B.  F.  Houston, 
A.  A.  Hanev,  A.  M.  Crowe]  1  and  H.  M.  Houston. 
The  latter  was  one  of  the  best  known  men  who  ever 
lived  in  this  section.  He  was  the  largest  property  owner  of  the 
town  at  the  time  of  his  death,  liavino-  spent  a  long  time  in  close 
attention  to  business,  in  frugal  hal)its.   and  the  practice  of  a 


RESIDENCE   OF    H.    M.    BROOM. 


virtuous  econoni}-.  He  came  to  Monroe  at  the  beginning  of  the 
town  and  till  his  death  at  the  age  of  84  years  M-as  active  as  a 
merchant,  farmer,  banker,  etc.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Seces- 
sion Convention,  having  been  elected  as  Union  county's  delegate, 
and  as  a  Union  man. 


11: 


CONTROL  OF  Tin-:   Lh.ilOK  TKWFFK 


RY  J.   E.  CLAKK. 

The  Mdiinii-  (li«-|n'ii.<;ny  is  om-  of  tlio  jnihlic  institutions  ;)f 
the  town,  and,  as  sueh.  re(|\iires  a  ])hicc  in  the  town  and  county's 
write-up.  It  may  he  said  at  tlie  he^rinning  tliat  tliere  is  to  l)e 
an  election  on  tlie  qui'stion  in  September,  and  the  i)eo])le  of  tliG 
county  are  to  pass  finally  u]>on  the  question  as  to  whether  they 
desire  the  dispensary  continued  or  discontinued. 

One  of  the  greatest  of  the  many  problems  which  confront 
this  growing  nation,  quivering  with  the  repressed  energy  of 
youth  and  meeting  and  answering  great  questions  almost  before 
more  deliberate  countries  realize  their  existence,  is  that  of  the 
control  of  the  liouor  trallic.  From  the  great  figlits  in  Xew 
York  City,  whiTc  the  liipior  power  is  felt  in  all  its  might,  down 
to  the  rural  community  which  is  nominally  "dry"  by  legislative 
enactment,  none  are  free  from  the  disturbing  question.  While- 
Greater  Xew  York  is  struggling  with  the  alternative  of  sur- 
rendering to  the  bar-keepers  entirely  or  enforcing  an  inadequate 
and  unpopular  law  against  Sunday  selling,  hundreds  of  rural 
communities  are  invaded  with  impudent  peddlers  who  operate 
without  license  and  in  defiance  of  law.  From  the  first  it  has 
been  a  recognized  ]irinciple  that  the  strong  arm  of  the  law 
must  in  some  form  or  other  take  cognizance  of  the  traffic.  So 
far  the  attitude  of  the  law  l>as  been  one  of  three  forms:  prohi- 
bition, the  saloon  system,  or  what,  for  want  of  a  better  name,, 
are  called  dispensaries.  The  latter  plan  is  the  one  adopted  by 
]\Ionroe.  This  one  dispensary  is  the  only  place  in  Union  county 
in  which  liquor  may  be  legally  sold.  Other  towns  have  prohi- 
bition and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  saloons  are  permanently  l)an- 
ished  from  the  town  and  county.  This  is  a  very  important  con- 
sideration to  home-seekers.  Our  system  is  considered  by  many 
to  be  the  best  possible  control  of  the  liquor  traffic  at  present 
obtainable.  A  few  statements  of  fact  in  regard  to  this  institu- 
tion mav  not  be  uninterestins:  in  this  connection : 


113 

rp  to  and  iiu-ludiii,i>'  the  year  1897  the  town  of  Monroe  hau, 
always  three,  and  sometimes  five  saloons.  In  that  year  the  Leg- 
islature estal)lished  the  dispensary,  to  go  into  effect  Janutry 
1st,  1898,  and  Messrs.  John  J.  Crow,  0.  W.  Biggers  and  Geo. 
S.  liee,  three  of  onr  very  best  citizens,  were  named  as  commis- 
sioners to  establish  and  maintain  a  dispensary.  These  gentle- 
man did  as  directed  by  the  law,  and  appointed  Mr.  W.  E.  Marsh 
manager,  and  ^Ir.  W.  H.  Austin  clerk.  All  of  these  gentlemen 
have  given  unselfish  service,  and  only  one  of  them,  Mr.  Lee,  has 
severed  his  official  connection,  and  that  only  because  he  was 
elected  to  another  office.  Mr.  E.  H.  Haines,  of  West  Monroe 
township,  was  appointed  in  Mr.  Lee's  place.  The  profits  of  this 
business  have  been  distributed  from  year  to  year  according  to 
law  as  follows : 

¥011  THE  YEAR  1898. 

To  the  City  of  Monroe $1,118.10 

To  the  Public  Schools  of  the  County 1,118.10 

Total    $-^,33G.2'i 

FOR  TflE  YEAR  1899. 

To  the  City  of  .Afonroe $1,355.31 

To  the  Public  Schools  of  the  County 1,355.31 

To  the  Chain  Gang  Fund ;9fi.6.5 


Total    $3,50 


FOR  THE  YEAR  1900. 

To  the   City  of  Monroe $1,500 

To  the  Public  Schools  of  the  (^ninfy 1,500 

To  the  Chain  Gang 1,500 

Total    $4,500 


114 


K()l{    THK    YKAFt     1!)01. 

To  the  City  of  M(»iini(' $1,G0(;.<);{ 

To  the  rublic  Schools  of  the  County l.ddl.do 

To  the   Chain   Gan^^ l,(i(>l  ();5 

To  the  Graded   Schools l,li>:).l  1 

Total     $6,000.00 

Total  amount  distrihutcd    f<ir     public     purposes     in 

four  years    $16,243.43 

Under  the  old  system  of  licensing  saloons,  not  half  of  tliis 
amount  could  possibly  have  been  collected  in  taxes  for  the 
purposes  of  law  and  order  and  education,  while  there  is  no  ques- 
tion that  the  saloons  would  have  sold  much  more  liquor  in  a 
much  more  harmful  manner.  The  dispensary  idea  rests  upon 
the  proposition  that  as  long  as  liquor  is  made  and  sold  in  con- 
tigiious  territory,  some  men  will  have  it  by  either  lawful  or  un- 
lawful means,  and  that  it  is  best  for  the  community  that  they 
be  lawful,  and  that  instead  of  lettin  gthe  profits  of  an  unavoida- 
ble business  go  into  the  hands  of  law-breakers  and  fugitives  from 
justice,  they  should  go  to  the  educational  fund  and  towards  th-.- 
maintenance  of  order.  The  two  great  points  in  favor  of  our 
way  of  controlling  the  liquor  traffic  are:  1st.  It  tends  to  lessen 
the  drink  habit.  It  does  this  by  preventing  social  drinking  and 
treating.  All  licpiors  are  sold  in  corked  vessels,  which  are  not 
allowed  to  be  opened  on  the  premises.  Thus  there  are  no  mixed 
drinks,  no  fancy  drinks,  and  none  of  those  blandishments  which 
entice  young  men  to  acquire  the  drink  habit.  The  dispensary 
says  to  the  man  who  drinks  liquor,  "You  may  have  your  liquor, 
but  there  shall  go  with  it  none  of  those  seductive  influences 
which  tempt  other  men  to  become  drinkers." 

2nd.  It  takes  the  profits  of  the  business  from  private  hands 
and  devotes  them  to  public  good.  It  is  a  notorious  fact  that 
saloon  men  spend  large  parts  of  their  profits  in  spreading  their 
business,  giving  free  drinks  and  fighting  opposition.  An  officer 
of  a  liquor  dealers'  association  said  in  a  public  address  to  saloon- 


115 


keepers,  "Nickels  aiul  diines  s})ont  in  free  drinks  to  young  men 
will  reap  a  rich  harvest  in  dollars  from  future  customers.''  The 
dispensary  sows  no  seed  to  })roduce  drunkards. 

It  may  be  noticed  that  the  dispensary  profits  have  increased 
from  year  to  year.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  opposition  to 
this  method  has  been  gradually  dying  away,  and  that  illegal 
sales  in  all  parts  of  the  county  have  become  less  and  less  each 
year,  and  those  consumers  who  formerly,  through  prejudice  or 
for  other  reasons,  bought  no  liquor  from  the  dispensary  now 
buy  there.  In  spite  of  prejudice  and  the  sternest  opposition, 
the  dispensary  has  worked  its  way.  The  results  are  that  there 
is  no  more  orderly  town  to  be  found  than  Monroe.  An  arrcbt 
for  drunkeness  is  a  comparative  rarity,  and  where  formerly 
crowds  of  half  drunken  loafers  gathered  in  mobs  about  the  bars 
and  on  the  street  corners,  the  streets  are  clear  and  as  orderly  an 
a  lady's  parlor.  These  views  are  expressed  as  those  of  the 
writer  of  this  article  and  have  been  formed  after  careful  and 
deliberate  observation.  Monroe  can  confidently  offer  to  home- 
seekers  a  town  free  from  the  saloon  danger,  where  their  boys 
are  not  enticed  to  become  drunkards,  and  where  there  is  the 
least  possible  danger  from  the  great  evils  of  the  liquor  traffic. 


